COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR ALTERING RNAi

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for altering (e.g., enhancing) RNAi. In particular, the present invention provides systems and methods for identifying regulators of RNAi. For example, the present invention provides RNAi regulators (e.g., HPS1 and HPS4) and methods of altering (e.g., inhibiting) these regulators in order to alter (e.g., enhance) RNAi. The present invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors (e.g., small molecule, nucleic acid (e.g., siRNA), and antibody) of RNAi regulators and methods of using the same (e.g., to enhance RNAi). Compositions and methods of the present invention find use in research (e.g., functional genomics), therapeutic (e.g., drug discovery and delivery) and clinical applications.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/641,937, filed Dec. 19, 2006, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/751,596, filed Dec. 19, 2005, each of which are herein incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL FUNDING

This invention was made with government support under Grant No. R01 GM068743 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for altering (e.g., enhancing) RNAi. In particular, the present invention provides systems and methods for identifying regulators of RNAi. For example, the present invention provides RNAi regulators (e.g., HPS1 and HPS4) and methods of altering (e.g., inhibiting) these regulators in order to alter (e.g., enhance) RNAi. The present invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors (e.g., small molecule, nucleic acid (e.g., siRNA), and antibody) of RNAi regulators and methods of using the same (e.g., to enhance RNAi). Compositions and methods of the present invention find use in research (e.g., functional genomics), therapeutic (e.g., drug discovery and delivery) and clinical applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism in which RNA regulates gene expression. When RNA is utilized by the RNAi mechanism, it alters (e.g., represses or silences) the expression of genes that are complementary in sequence to the regulatory RNA (See, e.g., Nakahara and Carthew, (2004) Curr Opin Cell Biol 16, 127-133). Generally, gene repression occurs via degradation of complementary mRNA transcripts, thus preventing protein product synthesis (See, e.g., Carthew (2001) Curr Opin Cell Biol 12, 244-248). A signature feature of the regulatory RNA is that it has a double helix structure. If double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is present, then it is processed into small RNA fragments 21-25 nucleotides in length by a class of RNaseIII enzymes called the Dicer family. These RNA fragments, called siRNAs, are sufficient to substitute for dsRNA in causing mRNA transcript degradation. Thus, siRNAs are thought to be the direct guides that identify mRNA substrates for degradation.

Once siRNAs are formed, they associate into a nuclease complex termed RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that recognizes and cleaves mRNAs. Cleavage of mRNA substrate by RISC is endonucleolytic and occurs at a central site in the region homologous to the siRNA.

RNAi has become a new and powerful approach to rational drug design (e.g., to treat diseases that involve aberrant gene expression). However, one significant drawback to RNAi is that its effect on gene expression is rarely completely potent. This limitation, observed widely, is problematic when a cessation of gene expression is desired or required. Thus, there exists a need to improve RNAi efficacy in research, clinical and therapeutic settings (e.g., to improve RNA-based treatments).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for altering (e.g., enhancing) RNAi. In particular, the present invention provides systems and methods for identifying regulators of RNAi. For example, the present invention provides RNAi regulators (e.g., HPS1 and HPS4) and methods of altering (e.g., inhibiting) these regulators in order to alter (e.g., enhance) RNAi. The present invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors (e.g., small molecule, nucleic acid (e.g., siRNA), and antibody) of RNAi regulators and methods of using the same (e.g., to enhance RNAi). Compositions and methods of the present invention find use in research (e.g., functional genomics), therapeutic (e.g., drug discovery and delivery) and clinical applications.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, the present invention provides a method of altering RNAi in a cell comprising administering to the cell a RNAi regulator inhibitor. In some embodiments, the RNAi regulator is HPS1 or similar agent. In some embodiments, the RNAi regulator is HPS4 or similar agent. In some embodiments, the RNAi regulator is CG6969 or similar agent. In some embodiments, the administering enhances RNAi in the cell. In some embodiments, the inhibitor is siRNA. The present invention is not limited by the type of inhibitor utilized. In some embodiments, the inhibitor is an antibody. In some embodiments, the inhibitor is a small molecule. In some embodiments, the inhibitor is dsRNA. In some embodiments, the inhibitor is shRNA. In some embodiments, the inhibitor is co-administered with a siRNA and/or miRNA specific for an aberrantly expressed gene or gene to be regulated within the cell. The present invention is not limited by the type of aberrantly expressed gene or gene to be regulated. Indeed, the expression of a variety of aberrantly expressed genes or genes to be regulated are contemplated to be treatable (e.g., lowered) using the compositions and methods of the present invention. Examples of aberrantly expressed genes include, but are not limited to, oncogenes, genes expressed by pathogenic organisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.), and other aberrantly expressed genes. A variety of oncogenes are contemplated to be suppressable including, but not limited to, abl, Bcl-2, Bcl-x1, erb, brca1, brca2, fms, gsp, hst, jun, myc, neu, raf, ras, ret, src, and trk. The present invention also contemplates that the aberrantly expressed gene may be a viral gene (e.g., any gene necessary for viral survival within a host, for example, that can silenced using the compositions and methods of the present to inhibit viral growth or replication). In some embodiments, the aberrantly expressed gene is a viral gene. In some embodiments, the cell is in vitro. In some embodiments, the cell is in vivo. In some embodiments, the inhibitor blocks expression of the RNAi regulator. In some embodiments, the inhibitor alters (e.g., decreases) the activity of the RNAi regulator. In some embodiments, administrating the inhibitor increases the rate of RISC assembly. In some embodiments, administrating the inhibitor increases RISC activity.

The present invention also provides a method of identifying an inhibitor of a RNAi regulator comprising: providing cells comprising the RNAi regulator; administering to the cells a test compound; and characterizing the ability of the test compound to alter the RNAi regulator. In some embodiments, altering the RNAi regulator inhibits expression of the RNAi regulator. In some embodiments, altering the RNAi regulator inhibits activity of the RNAi regulator. In some embodiments, the test compound is an RNA. In some embodiments, the RNA is a siRNA. In some embodiments, the RNA is a dsRNA. In some embodiments, the RNA is a shRNA. The present invention is not limited to any particular type of test compound. Indeed a variety of test compounds are contemplated to be useful in the present invention including, but not limited to, antibodies, small molecules, peptides, and peptoids. In some embodiments, the RNAi regulator is HPS1. In some embodiments, the RNAi regulator is HPS4.

The present invention also provides a method of increasing the rate of RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) assembly in a cell comprising administering to the cell an RNAi regulator inhibitor. In some embodiments, the RNAi regulator is HPS1, HPS4 and/or CG6969.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a composition comprising a RNAi regulator or a mutant thereof (e.g., described herein) and/or nucleic acid sequence encoding the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the RNAi pathway wherein Dicer associated with R2D2 protein processes siRNA precursors, resulting RDI complex initiating siRNA assembly into RISC, and holo-RISC cleaving complementary mRNA, leading to its degradation.

FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NOS: 16-18) depicts the vector pWIZ described in Example 1.

FIG. 3 shows (A) the white RNAi transgene; (B) a white⁺ eye; (C) a white mutant eye; (D) an eye in a white⁺ animal carrying one copy of the white RNAi transgene; (E) an eye in a white⁺ animal carrying two copies of the white RNAi transgene.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic of the F1 genetic mosaic screen.

FIG. 5 shows (A) a fly with normal CG4966 gene; (B) a fly with a mutant allele of CG4966; (C) a fly with a different mutant allele of CG4966; (D) a normal eye with smooth surface; (E) a fly with a Csk RNAi transgene, showing a mildly rougher surface due to weak RNAi against Csk; (F) a fly with Csk RNAi transgene and mutant for CG4966, showing a much rougher and smaller eye.

FIG. 6 shows (A) the structure of the CG4966 gene. Two mRNA isoforms are generated by alternate promoter use. The isoforms only differ by the identities of their first exons, which contain 5′UTR and early coding sequence. The resulting protein products from each isoform differ in length (834 vs 858 amino acids) due to sequence differences at the amino-termini; (B) Domain structure of the β isoform of CG4966 showing the positions of nonsense mutations isolated from the genetic screen. Amino acid identity and positions are noted; all were mutated into Stop codons (X). Domains at amino and carboxy termini are shown in black and grey rectangles, respectively. These domains are completely shared between the A and β isoforms; (C) Structures of vertebrate orthologs of CG4966, showing conserved domains and the percent amino acid sequence identity between each ortholog and CG4966. Lengths of vertebrate orthologs are given in amino acids (aa)

FIG. 7 shows the domain structures of vertebrate orthologs of CG12855, including HPS1 and pale ear. The percent amino acid sequence identity between each ortholog and CG12855 are shown. Lengths of vertebrate orthologs are given in amino acids (aa). CG12855 is 596 amino acids in length.

FIG. 8 shows co-immunoprecipitation of CG4966 and CG12855 proteins from Drosophila S2 cells.

FIG. 9 shows that extracts from the dHPS4 mutant show greater siRNA-directed mRNA cleavage activity than normal. The top panel shows the products of a cleavage reaction after incubation of extract with ATP and siRNA. The lower panel shows that this effect is quantitative when measured and reproduced.

FIG. 10 shows that extract from the dHPS4 mutant shows greater accumulation of Holo-RISC.

FIG. 11 shows that the step between intermediate and holo-RISC complexes is enhanced in the dHPS4 mutant. The left panel shows a time course of complex formation after labeled siRNA is added to protein extract. The right panel shows the quantitation of complex abundance over time.

FIG. 12 shows that dHPS1 and dHPS4 proteins co-localize in the cytosol of Drosophila S2 cells. Epitope-tagged expression vectors were transfected into S2 cells, and HA-tagged proteins were visualized by immunofluorescence after 24 hours expression. Cells were counterstained for DNA. Cells expressed dHPS4 (A) or dHPS1 (B)

FIG. 13 shows mRNA cleavage reaction with human HeLa extract with the 5′ cleavage product of RNAi reaction indicated as the smaller labeled species.

FIG. 14 shows drosophila HPS4 cDNA sequence isoform RB (SEQ ID NO.:1).

FIG. 15 shows drosophila HPS4 cDNA sequence isoform RA (SEQ ID NO.:2).

FIG. 16 shows drosophila HPS1 cDNA sequence (SEQ ID NO.:3).

FIG. 17 shows the cDNA sequence of human HPS1 (SEQ ID NO.:4) and human HPS4 (SEQ ID NO.:5).

FIG. 18 shows OPTIPREP gradient centrifugation of head extract from wildtype or HPS4 mutant adults. Membranes and associated molecules float to the top of the gradient, as evident by the specific localization of the Golgi protein GM130 to the top fraction as determined by Western blot. Bottom fractions contain high molecular weight membrane-free molecules. Aliquots of each fraction were probed with anti-HPS4 antibody. Antibody specificity for HPS4 protein is seen by Western blot of a parallel gradient from a HPS4 mutant.

FIG. 19 shows HPS4 mutants exhibit enhanced miRNA pathway activity in vivo. (A) Structure of the construct GMR-GFP-BRD used to express GFP in adult eyes. GFP expression is driven in the eye by the GMR promoter and is controlled by the 3′ UTR from the Brd gene, which harbors four miRNA binding sites. Three sites (light bars) share a common seed sequence, distinct from the fourth site (dark bar). (B) Schematic drawing of an eye from a GMR-GFP-BRD adult that is genetically mosaic due to FLP/FRT recombination. Clones that are homozygous for a mutation in a miRNA pathway gene (−/−) could express higher or lower levels of GFP compared to the surrounding wild type tissue (+/+), resulting in mosaic fluorescence. (C-E) Eyes of a adults expressing GMR-GFP-BRD. Clones are highlighted with their boundaries marked with yellow lines. (C) An eye with no clones. (D) An eye with Dcr-1 mutant clones (circled). (E) An eye with two HPS4 mutant clones.

FIG. 20 shows HPS4 mutants exhibit enhanced miRNA silencing in vitro. 5′-labeled mRNA was incubated with wildtype or HPS4 mutant head extract. Reactions were supplemented with either a Pp-luciferase siRNA (+si) or a bantam miRNA (+mi). Reactions as indicated contained no siRNA or miRNA. Target mRNAs contained perfectly complementary sequence to their cognate siRNA or miRNA at the indicated positions. When a miRNA can bind with perfect complementarity to its target, cleavage of the target ensues. This is detected by the presence of the 5′-labeled cleavage product as indicated.

FIG. 21 shows CG6969 mutants exhibit stronger RNAi in vivo. (A) The bright red eye of a normal adult Drosophila. (B) The white eye of a fly missing its white gene. (C) The pale orange eye due to partial silencing of the white gene by transgenic RNAi. (D) The complete silencing (white eye) of the white gene by transgenic RNAi in an CG6969 mutant fly. (E) The weakly disordered patterning of facet lenses in a fly that has partial RNAi silencing of the CSK kinase gene. (F) Patterning of facet lenses is more disordered due to stronger RNAi silencing of CSK in a CG6969 mutant fly.

FIGS. 22A-J show CG6969 codon sequence (SEQ ID NO.: 6) and ortholog sequences (SEQ ID NOs.: 7-15). Predicted ORF sequences of CG6969 (A), human thyroid peroxidase (B), human eosinophil peroxidase (C), human myeloid peroxidase (D), human lymphoid peroxidase (E), murine myeloid peroxidase (F), mosquito peroxidase (G), canine myeloid peroxidase (H), C. elegans peroxidase (I), Arabidopsis oxidoreductase (J). The amino acids denoted with a box in (A) are those that are altered in the two RNAi-enhancing mutant alleles.

FIG. 23 shows CG6969 mutants exhibit stronger RNAi in vitro. (A) Target mRNA cleavage programmed by siRNA is stronger in embryo extract from a CG6969 trans-heterozygous mutant compared to wildtype control. Shown is a titration of extract protein. (B) Native gel electrophoresis of labeled siRNA complexes formed with embryo extracts from CG6969 wildtype or mutant animals. Level of holo-RISC complex is higher in the mutant extract when compared to levels of other complexes such as RDI and RLC.

FIG. 24 shows Western blot analysis of RISC subunit abundance from extract derived from two different wildtype (CG6969+) sources of embryos and from extract derived from CG6969 trans-heterozygous mutant embryos. Probed were antibodies against VIG, dFXR, and TSN proteins.

FIGS. 25A-D show CLUSTALW alignment of CG6969 (SEQ ID NO.: 6) and ortholog sequences shown as mosquito (SEQ ID NO.: 12), MPO (human) (SEQ ID NO.: 9), MPO (dog) (SEQ ID NO.: 13), MPO (mouse) (SEQ ID NO.: 11), EPX (human) (SEQ ID NO.: 8), LPO (human) (SEQ ID NO.: 10), TPO (human) (residues 1-800 of SEQ ID NO.: 7), C. elegans (residues 547-1432 of SEQ ID NO.: 14), and Arabidopsis (SEQ ID NO.: 15). Strong identity at a position is indicated with an asterisk; moderate identity is indicated with a colon; strong similarity with a period. The tyrosine residue that is altered to a stop codon in one mutant allele is highlighted. The glycine residue that is altered to a threonine in the other mutant allele is highlighted by a grey box.

Definitions

As used herein, the term “immunoglobulin” or “antibody” refer to proteins that bind a specific antigen. Immunoglobulins include, but are not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, and humanized antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab′)₂ fragments, and includes immunoglobulins of the following classes: IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, IbE, and secreted immunoglobulins (sIg). Immunoglobulins generally comprise two identical heavy chains and two light chains. However, the terms “antibody” and “immunoglobulin” also encompass single chain antibodies and two chain antibodies.

As used herein, the term “antigen binding protein” refers to proteins that bind to a specific antigen. “Antigen binding proteins” include, but are not limited to, immunoglobulins, including polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, and humanized antibodies; Fab fragments, F(ab′)₂ fragments, and Fab expression libraries; and single chain antibodies.

The term “epitope” as used herein refers to that portion of an antigen that makes contact with a particular immunoglobulin.

When a protein or fragment of a protein is used to immunize a host animal, numerous regions of the protein may induce the production of antibodies which bind specifically to a given region or three-dimensional structure on the protein; these regions or structures are referred to as “antigenic determinants”. An antigenic determinant may compete with the intact antigen (e.g., the “immunogen” used to elicit the immune response) for binding to an antibody.

The terms “specific binding” or “specifically binding” when used in reference to the interaction of an antibody and a protein or peptide means that the interaction is dependent upon the presence of a particular structure (e.g., the antigenic determinant or epitope) on the protein; in other words the antibody is recognizing and binding to a specific protein structure rather than to proteins in general. For example, if an antibody is specific for epitope “A,” the presence of a protein containing epitope A (or free, unlabelled A) in a reaction containing labeled “A” and the antibody will reduce the amount of labeled A bound to the antibody.

As used herein, the terms “non-specific binding” and “background binding” when used in reference to the interaction of an antibody and a protein or peptide refer to an interaction that is not dependent on the presence of a particular structure (i.e., the antibody is binding to proteins in general rather that a particular structure such as an epitope).

As used herein, the terms “specifically binding to HPS4 with low background binding” and “specifically binding to HPS1 with low background binding” refer to an antibody that binds specifically to HPS4 or HPS1 protein, respectively (e.g., in an immunohistochemistry assay) but not to other proteins (e.g., lack of non-specific binding).

As used herein, the term “subject” refers to any plant or animal (e.g., a mammal), including, but not limited to, humans, non-human primates, rodents, and the like, which is to be the recipient of a particular treatment. Typically, the terms “subject” and “patient” are used interchangeably herein in reference to a human subject, unless indicated otherwise herein.

As used herein, the terms “reagent(s) capable of specifically detecting HPS4 expression” and “reagent(s) capable of specifically detecting HPS1 expression” refer to reagents used to detect the expression of HPS4 and HPS1, respectively. Examples of suitable reagents include but are not limited to, nucleic acid probes capable of specifically hybridizing to HPS4 or HPS1 mRNA or cDNA, and antibodies (e.g., monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies of the present invention).

As used herein, the term “non-human animals” refers to all non-human animals including, but are not limited to, vertebrates such as rodents, non-human primates, ovines, bovines, ruminants, lagomorphs, porcines, caprines, equines, canines, felines, ayes, etc.

As used herein, the term “gene transfer system” refers to any means of delivering a composition comprising a nucleic acid sequence to a cell or tissue. For example, gene transfer systems include, but are not limited to, vectors (e.g., retroviral, adenoviral, adeno-associated viral, and other nucleic acid-based delivery systems), microinjection of naked nucleic acid, polymer-based delivery systems (e.g., liposome-based and metallic particle-based systems), biolistic injection, and the like. As used herein, the term “viral gene transfer system” refers to gene transfer systems comprising viral elements (e.g., intact viruses, modified viruses and viral components such as nucleic acids or proteins) to facilitate delivery of the sample to a desired cell or tissue. As used herein, the term “adenovirus gene transfer system” refers to gene transfer systems comprising intact or altered viruses belonging to the family Adenoviridae.

As used herein, the term “site-specific recombination target sequences” refers to nucleic acid sequences that provide recognition sequences for recombination factors and the location where recombination takes place.

As used herein, the term “nucleic acid molecule” refers to any nucleic acid containing molecule, including but not limited to, DNA or RNA. The term encompasses sequences that include any of the known base analogs of DNA and RNA including, but not limited to, 4-acetylcytosine, 8-hydroxy-N6-methyladenosine, aziridinylcytosine, pseudoisocytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine, 1-methyladenine, 1-methylpseudouracil, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-methyladenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxy-aminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarbonylmethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid, oxybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, N-uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, and 2,6-diaminopurine.

The term “gene” refers to a nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) sequence that comprises coding sequences necessary for the production of a polypeptide, precursor, or RNA (e.g., rRNA, tRNA). The polypeptide can be encoded by a full length coding sequence or by any portion of the coding sequence so long as the desired activity or functional properties (e.g., enzymatic activity, ligand binding, signal transduction, immunogenicity, etc.) of the full-length or fragment are retained. The term also encompasses the coding region of a structural gene and the sequences located adjacent to the coding region on both the 5′ and 3′ ends for a distance of about 1 kb or more on either end such that the gene corresponds to the length of the full-length mRNA. Sequences located 5′ of the coding region and present on the mRNA are referred to as 5′ non-translated sequences. Sequences located 3′ or downstream of the coding region and present on the mRNA are referred to as 3′ non-translated sequences. The term “gene” encompasses both cDNA and genomic forms of a gene. A genomic form or clone of a gene contains the coding region interrupted with non-coding sequences termed “introns” or “intervening regions” or “intervening sequences.” Introns are segments of a gene that are transcribed into nuclear RNA (hnRNA); introns may contain regulatory elements such as enhancers. Introns are removed or “spliced out” from the nuclear or primary transcript; introns therefore are absent in the messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript. The mRNA functions during translation to specify the sequence or order of amino acids in a nascent polypeptide.

As used herein, the term “heterologous gene” refers to a gene that is not in its natural environment. For example, a heterologous gene includes a gene from one species introduced into another species. A heterologous gene also includes a gene native to an organism that has been altered in some way (e.g., mutated, added in multiple copies, linked to non-native regulatory sequences, etc). Heterologous genes are distinguished from endogenous genes in that the heterologous gene sequences are typically joined to DNA sequences that are not found naturally associated with the gene sequences in the chromosome or are associated with portions of the chromosome not found in nature (e.g., genes expressed in loci where the gene is not normally expressed).

As used herein, the term “transgene” refers to a heterologous gene that is integrated into the genome of an organism (e.g., a non-human animal) and that is transmitted to progeny of the organism during sexual reproduction.

As used herein, the term “transgenic organism” refers to an organism (e.g., a non-human animal) that has a transgene integrated into its genome and that transmits the transgene to its progeny during sexual reproduction.

As used herein, the term “gene expression” refers to the process of converting genetic information encoded in a gene into RNA (e.g., mRNA, rRNA, tRNA, or snRNA) through “transcription” of the gene (i.e., via the enzymatic action of an RNA polymerase), and for protein encoding genes, into protein through “translation” of mRNA. Gene expression can be regulated at many stages in the process. “Up-regulation” or “activation” refers to regulation that increases the production of gene expression products (e.g., RNA or protein), while “down-regulation” or “repression” refers to regulation that decrease production. Molecules (e.g., transcription factors) that are involved in up-regulation or down-regulation are often called “activators” and “repressors,” respectively.

In addition to containing introns, genomic forms of a gene may also include sequences located on both the 5′ and 3′ end of the sequences that are present on the RNA transcript. These sequences are referred to as “flanking” sequences or regions (these flanking sequences are located 5′ or 3′ to the non-translated sequences present on the mRNA transcript). The 5′ flanking region may contain regulatory sequences such as promoters and enhancers that control or influence the transcription of the gene. The 3′ flanking region may contain sequences that direct the termination of transcription, post-transcriptional cleavage and polyadenylation.

The term “wild-type” refers to a gene or gene product isolated from a naturally occurring source. A wild-type gene is that which is most frequently observed in a population and is thus arbitrarily designed the “normal” or “wild-type” form of the gene. In contrast, the term “modified” or “mutant” refers to a gene or gene product that displays modifications in sequence and or functional properties (e.g., altered characteristics) when compared to the wild-type gene or gene product. It is noted that naturally occurring mutants can be isolated; these are identified by the fact that they have altered characteristics (including altered nucleic acid sequences) when compared to the wild-type gene or gene product.

As used herein, the terms “nucleic acid molecule encoding,” “DNA sequence encoding,” and “DNA encoding” refer to the order or sequence of deoxyribonucleotides along a strand of deoxyribonucleic acid. The order of these deoxyribonucleotides determines the order of amino acids along the polypeptide (protein) chain. The DNA sequence thus codes for the amino acid sequence.

As used herein, the terms “an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence encoding a gene” and “polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence encoding a gene,” means a nucleic acid sequence comprising the coding region of a gene or in other words the nucleic acid sequence that encodes a gene product. The coding region may be present in a cDNA, genomic DNA or RNA form. When present in a DNA form, the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide may be single-stranded (i.e., the sense strand) or double-stranded. Suitable control elements such as enhancers/promoters, splice junctions, polyadenylation signals, etc. may be placed in close proximity to the coding region of the gene if needed to permit proper initiation of transcription and/or correct processing of the primary RNA transcript. Alternatively, the coding region utilized in the expression vectors of the present invention may contain endogenous enhancers/promoters, splice junctions, intervening sequences, polyadenylation signals, etc. or a combination of both endogenous and exogenous control elements.

As used herein, the term “oligonucleotide,” refers to a short length of single-stranded polynucleotide chain. Oligonucleotides are typically less than 200 residues long (e.g., between 15 and 100), however, as used herein, the term is also intended to encompass longer polynucleotide chains. Oligonucleotides are often referred to by their length. For example a 24 residue oligonucleotide is referred to as a “24-mer”. Oligonucleotides can form secondary and tertiary structures by self-hybridizing or by hybridizing to other polynucleotides. Such structures can include, but are not limited to, duplexes, hairpins, cruciforms, bends, and triplexes.

As used herein, the terms “complementary” or “complementarity” are used in reference to polynucleotides (i.e., a sequence of nucleotides) related by the base-pairing rules. For example, for the sequence “5′-A-G-T-3′,” is complementary to the sequence “3′-T-C-A-5′.” Complementarity may be “partial,” in which only some of the nucleic acids' bases are matched according to the base pairing rules. Or, there may be “complete” or “total” complementarity between the nucleic acids. The degree of complementarity between nucleic acid strands has significant effects on the efficiency and strength of hybridization between nucleic acid strands. This is of particular importance in amplification reactions, as well as detection methods that depend upon binding between nucleic acids.

The term “homology” refers to a degree of complementarity. There may be partial homology or complete homology (i.e., identity). A partially complementary sequence is a nucleic acid molecule that at least partially inhibits a completely complementary nucleic acid molecule from hybridizing to a target nucleic acid is “substantially homologous.” The inhibition of hybridization of the completely complementary sequence to the target sequence may be examined using a hybridization assay (Southern or Northern blot, solution hybridization and the like) under conditions of low stringency. A substantially homologous sequence or probe will compete for and inhibit the binding (i.e., the hybridization) of a completely homologous nucleic acid molecule to a target under conditions of low stringency. This is not to say that conditions of low stringency are such that non-specific binding is permitted; low stringency conditions require that the binding of two sequences to one another be a specific (i.e., selective) interaction. The absence of non-specific binding may be tested by the use of a second target that is substantially non-complementary (e.g., less than about 30% identity); in the absence of non-specific binding the probe will not hybridize to the second non-complementary target.

When used in reference to a double-stranded nucleic acid sequence such as a cDNA or genomic clone, the term “substantially homologous” refers to any probe that can hybridize to either or both strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid sequence under conditions of low stringency as described above.

A gene may produce multiple RNA species that are generated by differential splicing of the primary RNA transcript. cDNAs that are splice variants of the same gene will contain regions of sequence identity or complete homology (representing the presence of the same exon or portion of the same exon on both cDNAs) and regions of complete non-identity (for example, representing the presence of exon “A” on cDNA 1 wherein cDNA 2 contains exon “B” instead). Because the two cDNAs contain regions of sequence identity they will both hybridize to a probe derived from the entire gene or portions of the gene containing sequences found on both cDNAs; the two splice variants are therefore substantially homologous to such a probe and to each other.

When used in reference to a single-stranded nucleic acid sequence, the term “substantially homologous” refers to any probe that can hybridize (i.e., it is the complement of) the single-stranded nucleic acid sequence under conditions of low stringency as described above.

As used herein, the term “hybridization” is used in reference to the pairing of complementary nucleic acids. Hybridization and the strength of hybridization (i.e., the strength of the association between the nucleic acids) is impacted by such factors as the degree of complementary between the nucleic acids, stringency of the conditions involved, the T_(m) of the formed hybrid, and the G:C ratio within the nucleic acids. A single molecule that contains pairing of complementary nucleic acids within its structure is said to be “self-hybridized.”

As used herein, the term “T_(m)” is used in reference to the “melting temperature.” The melting temperature is the temperature at which a population of double-stranded nucleic acid molecules becomes half dissociated into single strands. The equation for calculating the T_(m) of nucleic acids is well known in the art. As indicated by standard references, a simple estimate of the T_(m) value may be calculated by the equation: T_(m)=81.5+0.41(% G+C), when a nucleic acid is in aqueous solution at 1 M NaCl (See e.g., Anderson and Young, Quantitative Filter Hybridization, in Nucleic Acid Hybridization (1985)). Other references include more sophisticated computations that take structural as well as sequence characteristics into account for the calculation of T_(m).

As used herein the term “stringency” is used in reference to the conditions of temperature, ionic strength, and the presence of other compounds such as organic solvents, under which nucleic acid hybridizations are conducted. Under “low stringency conditions” a nucleic acid sequence of interest will hybridize to its exact complement, sequences with single base mismatches, closely related sequences (e.g., sequences with 90% or greater homology), and sequences having only partial homology (e.g., sequences with 50-90% homology). Under ‘medium stringency conditions,” a nucleic acid sequence of interest will hybridize only to its exact complement, sequences with single base mismatches, and closely relation sequences (e.g., 90% or greater homology). Under “high stringency conditions,” a nucleic acid sequence of interest will hybridize only to its exact complement, and (depending on conditions such a temperature) sequences with single base mismatches. In other words, under conditions of high stringency the temperature can be raised so as to exclude hybridization to sequences with single base mismatches.

“High stringency conditions” when used in reference to nucleic acid hybridization comprise conditions equivalent to binding or hybridization at 42° C. in a solution consisting of 5×SSPE (43.8 g/l NaCl, 6.9 g/l NaH₂PO₄·H₂O and 1.85 g/l EDTA, pH adjusted to 7.4 with NaOH), 0.5% SDS, 5×Denhardt's reagent and 100 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA followed by washing in a solution comprising 0.1×SSPE, 1.0% SDS at 42° C. when a probe of about 500 nucleotides in length is employed.

“Medium stringency conditions” when used in reference to nucleic acid hybridization comprise conditions equivalent to binding or hybridization at 42° C. in a solution consisting of 5×SSPE (43.8 g/l NaCl, 6.9 g/l NaH₂PO₄·H₂O and 1.85 g/l EDTA, pH adjusted to 7.4 with NaOH), 0.5% SDS, 5×Denhardt's reagent and 100 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA followed by washing in a solution comprising 1.0×SSPE, 1.0% SDS at 42° C. when a probe of about 500 nucleotides in length is employed.

“Low stringency conditions” comprise conditions equivalent to binding or hybridization at 42° C. in a solution consisting of 5×SSPE (43.8 g/l NaCl, 6.9 g/l NaH₂PO₄·H₂O and 1.85 g/l EDTA, pH adjusted to 7.4 with NaOH), 0.1% SDS, 5×Denhardt's reagent (50×Denhardt's contains per 500 ml: 5 g Ficoll (Type 400, Pharamcia), 5 g BSA (Fraction V; Sigma)) and 100 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA followed by washing in a solution comprising 5×SSPE, 0.1% SDS at 42° C. when a probe of about 500 nucleotides in length is employed.

The art knows well that numerous equivalent conditions may be employed to comprise low stringency conditions; factors such as the length and nature (DNA, RNA, base composition) of the probe and nature of the target (DNA, RNA, base composition, present in solution or immobilized, etc.) and the concentration of the salts and other components (e.g., the presence or absence of formamide, dextran sulfate, polyethylene glycol) are considered and the hybridization solution may be varied to generate conditions of low stringency hybridization different from, but equivalent to, the above listed conditions. In addition, the art knows conditions that promote hybridization under conditions of high stringency (e.g., increasing the temperature of the hybridization and/or wash steps, the use of formamide in the hybridization solution, etc.) (see definition above for “stringency”).

As used herein, the term “primer” refers to an oligonucleotide, whether occurring naturally as in a purified restriction digest or produced synthetically, that is capable of acting as a point of initiation of synthesis when placed under conditions in which synthesis of a primer extension product that is complementary to a nucleic acid strand is induced, (e.g., in the presence of nucleotides and an inducing agent such as DNA polymerase and at a suitable temperature and pH). The primer is preferably single stranded for maximum efficiency in amplification, but may alternatively be double stranded. If double stranded, the primer is first treated to separate its strands before being used to prepare extension products. Preferably, the primer is an oligodeoxyribonucleotide. The primer must be sufficiently long to prime the synthesis of extension products in the presence of the inducing agent. The exact lengths of the primers will depend on many factors, including temperature, source of primer and the use of the method.

As used herein, the term “probe” refers to an oligonucleotide (i.e., a sequence of nucleotides), whether occurring naturally as in a purified restriction digest or produced synthetically, recombinantly or by PCR amplification, that is capable of hybridizing to another oligonucleotide of interest. A probe may be single-stranded or double-stranded. Probes are useful in the detection, identification and isolation of particular gene sequences. It is contemplated that any probe used in the present invention can be labeled with any “reporter molecule,” so that it is detectable in any detection system, including, but not limited to enzyme (e.g., ELISA, as well as enzyme-based histochemical assays), fluorescent, radioactive, and luminescent systems. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to any particular detection system or label.

As used herein, the terms “restriction endonucleases” and “restriction enzymes” refer to bacterial enzymes, each of which cut double-stranded DNA at or near a specific nucleotide sequence.

The terms “in operable combination,” “in operable order,” and “operably linked” as used herein refer to the linkage of nucleic acid sequences in such a manner that a nucleic acid molecule capable of directing the transcription of a given gene and/or the synthesis of a desired protein molecule is produced. The term also refers to the linkage of amino acid sequences in such a manner so that a functional protein is produced.

The term “isolated” when used in relation to a nucleic acid, as in “an isolated oligonucleotide” or “isolated polynucleotide” refers to a nucleic acid sequence that is identified and separated from at least one component or contaminant with which it is ordinarily associated in its natural source. Isolated nucleic acid is such present in a form or setting that is different from that in which it is found in nature. In contrast, non-isolated nucleic acids as nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA found in the state they exist in nature. For example, a given DNA sequence (e.g., a gene) is found on the host cell chromosome in proximity to neighboring genes; RNA sequences, such as a specific mRNA sequence encoding a specific protein, are found in the cell as a mixture with numerous other mRNAs that encode a multitude of proteins. However, isolated nucleic acid encoding a given protein includes, by way of example, such nucleic acid in cells ordinarily expressing the given protein where the nucleic acid is in a chromosomal location different from that of natural cells, or is otherwise flanked by a different nucleic acid sequence than that found in nature. The isolated nucleic acid, oligonucleotide, or polynucleotide may be present in single-stranded or double-stranded form. When an isolated nucleic acid, oligonucleotide or polynucleotide is to be utilized to express a protein, the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide will contain at a minimum the sense or coding strand (i.e., the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide may be single-stranded), but may contain both the sense and anti-sense strands (i.e., the oligonucleotide or polynucleotide may be double-stranded).

As used herein, the term “purified” or “to purify” refers to the removal of components (e.g., contaminants) from a sample. For example, antibodies are purified by removal of contaminating non-immunoglobulin proteins; they are also purified by the removal of immunoglobulin that does not bind to the target molecule. The removal of non-immunoglobulin proteins and/or the removal of immunoglobulins that do not bind to the target molecule results in an increase in the percent of target-reactive immunoglobulins in the sample. In another example, recombinant polypeptides are expressed in bacterial host cells and the polypeptides are purified by the removal of host cell proteins; the percent of recombinant polypeptides is thereby increased in the sample.

“Amino acid sequence” and terms such as “polypeptide” or “protein” are not meant to limit the amino acid sequence to the complete, native amino acid sequence associated with the recited protein molecule.

The term “native protein” as used herein to indicate that a protein does not contain amino acid residues encoded by vector sequences; that is, the native protein contains only those amino acids found in the protein as it occurs in nature. A native protein may be produced by recombinant means or may be isolated from a naturally occurring source.

As used herein the term “portion” when in reference to a protein (as in “a portion of a given protein”) refers to fragments of that protein. The fragments may range in size from four amino acid residues to the entire amino acid sequence minus one amino acid.

The term “Southern blot,” refers to the analysis of DNA on agarose or acrylamide gels to fractionate the DNA according to size followed by transfer of the DNA from the gel to a solid support, such as nitrocellulose or a nylon membrane. The immobilized DNA is then probed with a labeled probe to detect DNA species complementary to the probe used. The DNA may be cleaved with restriction enzymes prior to electrophoresis. Following electrophoresis, the DNA may be partially depurinated and denatured prior to or during transfer to the solid support. Southern blots are a standard tool of molecular biologists (J. Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, NY, pp 9.31-9.58 (1989)).

The term “Northern blot,” as used herein refers to the analysis of RNA by electrophoresis of RNA on agarose gels to fractionate the RNA according to size followed by transfer of the RNA from the gel to a solid support, such as nitrocellulose or a nylon membrane. The immobilized RNA is then probed with a labeled probe to detect RNA species complementary to the probe used. Northern blots are a standard tool of molecular biologists (J. Sambrook, et al., supra, pp 7.39-7.52 (1989)).

The term “Western blot” refers to the analysis of protein(s) (or polypeptides) immobilized onto a support such as nitrocellulose or a membrane. The proteins are run on acrylamide gels to separate the proteins, followed by transfer of the protein from the gel to a solid support, such as nitrocellulose or a nylon membrane. The immobilized proteins are then exposed to antibodies with reactivity against an antigen of interest. The binding of the antibodies may be detected by various methods, including the use of radiolabeled antibodies.

The terms “overexpression” and “overexpressing” and grammatical equivalents, are used in reference to levels of mRNA to indicate a level of expression approximately 3-fold higher (or greater) than that observed in a given tissue in a control or non-transgenic animal. Levels of mRNA are measured using any of a number of techniques known to those skilled in the art including, but not limited to Northern blot analysis. Appropriate controls are included on the Northern blot to control for differences in the amount of RNA loaded from each tissue analyzed (e.g., the amount of 28S rRNA, an abundant RNA transcript present at essentially the same amount in all tissues, present in each sample can be used as a means of normalizing or standardizing the mRNA-specific signal observed on Northern blots). The amount of mRNA present in the band corresponding in size to the correctly spliced transgene RNA can be quantified; other minor species of RNA which hybridize to the transgene probe are generally not considered in the quantification of the expression of the transgenic mRNA.

As used herein, the term “selectable marker” refers to the use of a gene that encodes an enzymatic activity that confers the ability to grow in medium lacking what would otherwise be an essential nutrient (e.g. the HIS3 gene in yeast cells); in addition, a selectable marker may confer resistance to an antibiotic or drug upon the cell in which the selectable marker is expressed. Selectable markers may be “dominant”; a dominant selectable marker encodes an enzymatic activity that can be detected in any eukaryotic cell line. Examples of dominant selectable markers include the bacterial aminoglycoside 3′ phosphotransferase gene (also referred to as the neo gene) that confers resistance to the drug G418 in mammalian cells, the bacterial hygromycin G phosphotransferase (hyg) gene that confers resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin and the bacterial xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase gene (also referred to as the gpt gene) that confers the ability to grow in the presence of mycophenolic acid. Other selectable markers are not dominant in that their use must be in conjunction with a cell line that lacks the relevant enzyme activity. Examples of non-dominant selectable markers include the thymidine kinase (tk) gene that is used in conjunction with tk⁻ cell lines, the CAD gene that is used in conjunction with CAD-deficient cells and the mammalian hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) gene that is used in conjunction with hprt⁻ cell lines. A review of the use of selectable markers in mammalian cell lines is provided in Sambrook, J. et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1989) pp. 16.9-16.15.

As used herein, the term “cell culture” refers to any in vitro culture of cells. Included within this term are continuous cell lines (e.g., with an immortal phenotype), primary cell cultures, transformed cell lines, finite cell lines (e.g., non-transformed cells), and any other cell population maintained in vitro.

As used, the term “eukaryote” refers to organisms distinguishable from “prokaryotes.” It is intended that the term encompass all organisms with cells that exhibit the usual characteristics of eukaryotes, such as the presence of a true nucleus bounded by a nuclear membrane, within which lie the chromosomes, the presence of membrane-bound organelles, and other characteristics commonly observed in eukaryotic organisms. Thus, the term includes, but is not limited to such organisms as fungi, protozoa, and animals (e.g., humans).

As used herein, the term “in vitro” refers to an artificial environment and to processes or reactions that occur within an artificial environment. In vitro environments can consist of, but are not limited to, test tubes and cell culture. The term “in vivo” refers to the natural environment (e.g., an animal or a cell) and to processes or reaction that occur within a natural environment.

The terms “test compound” and “candidate compound” refer to any chemical entity, pharmaceutical, drug, and the like that is a candidate for use to alter a RNAi regulator of the present invention. Such test compounds may function to alter a RNAi regulator, for example, by binding to proteins that generated a RNAi regulator, altering (e.g., inhibiting) RNAi regulator expression, altering (e.g., inhibiting) RNAi regulator activity or RNAi regulator presence, or have a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on, for example, the expression or activity of a RNAi regulator substrate. Test compounds comprise both known and potential therapeutic compounds. A test compound can be determined to be useful (e.g., therapeutically or for research purposes) by screening using the screening methods of the present invention.

As used herein, the term “sample” is used in its broadest sense. In one sense, it is meant to include a specimen or culture obtained from any source, as well as biological and environmental samples. Biological samples may be obtained from animals (including humans) and encompass fluids, solids, tissues, and gases. Biological samples include blood products, such as plasma, serum and the like. Environmental samples include environmental material such as surface matter, soil, water, crystals and industrial samples. Such examples are not however to be construed as limiting the sample types applicable to the present invention.

The term “RNA interference” or “RNAi” refers to the silencing or decreasing of gene expression (e.g., using siRNAs and/or miRNAs). Thus, RNAi refers to the process of sequence-specific, post-transcriptional gene silencing in animals and plants, initiated by siRNA and/or miRNA sharing homology in its duplex region to the sequence of the silenced gene. The gene may be endogenous or exogenous to the organism, present integrated into a chromosome or present in a transfection vector that is not integrated into the genome. The expression of the gene is either completely or partially inhibited. RNAi may also be considered to inhibit the function of a target RNA; the inhibition of function of the target RNA may be complete or partial.

The term “siRNAs” refers to short interfering RNAs. In some embodiments, siRNAs comprise a duplex, or double-stranded region, of about 18-25 nucleotides long; often siRNAs contain from about two to four unpaired nucleotides at the 3′ end of each strand. At least one strand of the duplex or double-stranded region of a siRNA is substantially homologous to or substantially complementary to a target RNA molecule. The strand complementary to a target RNA molecule is the “antisense strand;” the strand homologous to the target RNA molecule is the “sense strand,” and is also complementary to the siRNA antisense strand. siRNAs may also contain additional sequences; non-limiting examples of such sequences include linking sequences, or loops, as well as stem and other folded structures.

As used herein, the terms “microRNA” and “miRNA” refer to a class of gene regulatory small RNAs, typically 21-23 nt in length, that are evolutionarily conserved, small non-coding RNA molecules found in eukaryotes. miRNAs have been implicated in a wide range of functions such as cell growth and apoptosis, development, neuronal plasticity and remodeling, viral infection processes, oncogenesis, and even insulin secretion. miRNAs have also been implicated in disease (e.g., an overabundance of miRNA has been reported in cases of Fragile X Mental Retardation, whereas some cancers are associated with up- and downregulation of certain miRNA genes).

The term “target RNA molecule” refers to an RNA molecule to which at least one strand of the short double-stranded region of an siRNA is homologous or complementary or to which a miRNA possesses homology for. Typically, when such homology or complementary is about 100%, the siRNA and/or miRNA is able to silence or inhibit expression of the target RNA molecule. Although it is believed that processed mRNA is a target of siRNA, the present invention is not limited to any particular hypothesis, and such hypotheses are not necessary to practice the present invention. Thus, it is contemplated that other RNA molecules may also be targets of siRNA. Such targets include unprocessed mRNA, ribosomal RNA, and viral RNA sequences.

The term “RNA function” refers to the role of an RNA molecule in a cell. For example, one function of mRNA is translation into a protein. Other RNAs are not translated into a protein, and have other functions; such RNAs include but are not limited to transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). An RNA molecule may have more than one role in a cell.

The term “inhibition” when used in reference to gene expression or RNA function refers to a decrease in the level of gene expression or RNA function as the result of some interference with or interaction with gene expression or RNA function as compared to the level of expression or function in the absence of the interference or interaction. The inhibition may be complete, in which there is no detectable expression or function, or it may be partial. Partial inhibition can range from near complete inhibition to near absence of inhibition; typically, inhibition is at least about 50% inhibition, or at least about 80% inhibition, or at least about 90% inhibition.

The term “regulatory element” refers to a genetic element that controls some aspect of the expression of nucleic acid sequences. For example, a promoter is a regulatory element that facilitates the initiation of transcription of an operably linked coding region. Other regulatory elements are splicing signals, polyadenylation signals, miRNA binding sites, termination signals, etc.

Transcriptional control signals in eukaryotes comprise “promoter” and “enhancer” elements. Promoters and enhancers consist of short arrays of DNA sequences that interact specifically with cellular proteins involved in transcription (Maniatis, et al., Science 236:1237, 1987). Promoter and enhancer elements have been isolated from a variety of eukaryotic sources including genes in yeast, insect, mammalian and plant cells. Promoter and enhancer elements have also been isolated from viruses and analogous control elements, such as promoters, are also found in prokaryotes. The selection of a particular promoter and enhancer depends on the cell type used to express the protein of interest. Some eukaryotic promoters and enhancers have a broad host range while others are functional in a limited subset of cell types (for review, see Voss, et al., Trends Biochem. Sci., 11:287, 1986; and Maniatis, et al., supra 1987).

The terms “promoter element,” “promoter,” or “promoter sequence” as used herein, refer to a DNA sequence that is located at the 5′ end (i.e. precedes) the protein coding region of a DNA polymer. The location of most promoters known in nature precedes the transcribed region. The promoter functions as a switch, activating the expression of a gene. If the gene is activated, it is said to be transcribed, or participating in transcription. Transcription involves the synthesis of mRNA from the gene. The promoter, therefore, serves as a transcriptional regulatory element and also provides a site for initiation of transcription of the gene into mRNA.

Promoters may be tissue specific or cell specific. The term “tissue specific” as it applies to a promoter refers to a promoter that is capable of directing selective expression of a nucleotide sequence of interest to a specific type of tissue (e.g., seeds) in the relative absence of expression of the same nucleotide sequence of interest in a different type of tissue (e.g., leaves). Tissue specificity of a promoter may be evaluated by, for example, operably linking a reporter gene to the promoter sequence to generate a reporter construct, introducing the reporter construct into the genome of a plant such that the reporter construct is integrated into every tissue of the resulting transgenic plant, and detecting the expression of the reporter gene (e.g., detecting mRNA, protein, or the activity of a protein encoded by the reporter gene) in different tissues of the transgenic plant. The detection of a greater level of expression of the reporter gene in one or more tissues relative to the level of expression of the reporter gene in other tissues shows that the promoter is specific for the tissues in which greater levels of expression are detected. The term “cell type specific” as applied to a promoter refers to a promoter that is capable of directing selective expression of a nucleotide sequence of interest in a specific type of cell in the relative absence of expression of the same nucleotide sequence of interest in a different type of cell within the same tissue. The term “cell type specific” when applied to a promoter also means a promoter capable of promoting selective expression of a nucleotide sequence of interest in a region within a single tissue. Cell type specificity of a promoter may be assessed using methods well known in the art, e.g., immunohistochemical staining Briefly, tissue sections are embedded in paraffin, and paraffin sections are reacted with a primary antibody that is specific for the polypeptide product encoded by the nucleotide sequence of interest whose expression is controlled by the promoter. A labeled (e.g., peroxidase conjugated) secondary antibody that is specific for the primary antibody is allowed to bind to the sectioned tissue and specific binding detected (e.g., with avidin/biotin) by microscopy.

Promoters may be constitutive or regulatable. The term “constitutive” when made in reference to a promoter means that the promoter is capable of directing transcription of an operably linked nucleic acid sequence in the absence of a stimulus (e.g., heat shock, chemicals, light, etc.). Typically, constitutive promoters are capable of directing expression of a transgene in substantially any cell and any tissue. Exemplary constitutive plant promoters include, but are not limited to SD Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV SD; see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,605, incorporated herein by reference), mannopine synthase, octopine synthase (ocs), superpromoter (see e.g., WO 95/14098), and ubi3 (see e.g., Garbarino and Belknap, Plant Mol. Biol. 24:119-127 (1994)) promoters. Such promoters have been used successfully to direct the expression of heterologous nucleic acid sequences in transformed plant tissue.

In contrast, a “regulatable” or “inducible” promoter is one which is capable of directing a level of transcription of an operably linked nuclei acid sequence in the presence of a stimulus (e.g., heat shock, chemicals, light, etc.) which is different from the level of transcription of the operably linked nucleic acid sequence in the absence of the stimulus.

The enhancer and/or promoter may be “endogenous” or “exogenous” or “heterologous.” An “endogenous” enhancer or promoter is one that is naturally linked with a given gene in the genome. An “exogenous” or “heterologous” enhancer or promoter is one that is placed in juxtaposition to a gene by means of genetic manipulation (i.e., molecular biological techniques) such that transcription of the gene is directed by the linked enhancer or promoter. For example, an endogenous promoter in operable combination with a first gene can be isolated, removed, and placed in operable combination with a second gene, thereby making it a “heterologous promoter” in operable combination with the second gene. A variety of such combinations are contemplated (e.g., the first and second genes can be from the same species, or from different species.

The presence of “splicing signals” on an expression vector often results in higher levels of expression of the recombinant transcript in eukaryotic host cells. Splicing signals mediate the removal of introns from the primary RNA transcript and consist of a splice donor and acceptor site (Sambrook, et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1989) pp. 16.7-16.8). A commonly used splice donor and acceptor site is the splice junction from the 16S RNA of SV40.

Efficient expression of recombinant DNA sequences in eukaryotic cells requires expression of signals directing the efficient termination and polyadenylation of the resulting transcript. Transcription termination signals are generally found downstream of the polyadenylation signal and are a few hundred nucleotides in length. The term “poly(A) site” or “poly(A) sequence” as used herein denotes a DNA sequence which directs both the termination and polyadenylation of the nascent RNA transcript. Efficient polyadenylation of the recombinant transcript is desirable, as transcripts lacking a poly(A) tail are unstable and are rapidly degraded. The poly(A) signal utilized in an expression vector may be “heterologous” or “endogenous.” An endogenous poly(A) signal is one that is found naturally at the 3′ end of the coding region of a given gene in the genome. A heterologous poly(A) signal is one which has been isolated from one gene and positioned 3′ to another gene. A commonly used heterologous poly(A) signal is the SV40 poly(A) signal. The SV40 poly(A) signal is contained on a 237 bp BamHI/BclI restriction fragment and directs both termination and polyadenylation (Sambrook, supra, at 16.6-16.7).

The term “vector” refers to nucleic acid molecules that transfer DNA segment(s) from one cell to another. The term “vehicle” is sometimes used interchangeably with “vector.” A vector may be used to transfer an expression cassette into a cell; in addition or alternatively, a vector may comprise additional genes, including but not limited to genes which encode marker proteins, by which cell transfection can be determined, selection proteins, be means of which transfected cells may be selected from non-transfected cells, or reporter proteins, by means of which an effect on expression or activity or function of the reporter protein can be monitored.

The term “expression cassette” refers to a chemically synthesized or recombinant DNA molecule containing a desired coding sequence and appropriate nucleic acid sequences necessary for the expression of the operably linked coding sequence either in vitro or in vivo. Expression in vitro includes expression in transcription systems and in transcription/translation systems. Expression in vivo includes expression in a particular host cell and/or organism. Nucleic acid sequences necessary for expression in prokaryotic cell or in vitro expression system usually include a promoter, an operator (optional), and a ribosome binding site, often along with other sequences. Eukaryotic in vitro transcription systems and cells are known to utilize promoters, enhancers, and termination and polyadenylation signals. Nucleic acid sequences necessary for expression via bacterial RNA polymerases, referred to as a transcription template in the art, include a template DNA strand which has a polymerase promoter region followed by the complement of the RNA sequence desired. In order to create a transcription template, a complementary strand is annealed to the promoter portion of the template strand.

The term “expression vector” refers to a vector comprising one or more expression cassettes. Such expression cassettes include those of the present invention, where expression results in an siRNA transcript.

The term “transfection” refers to the introduction of foreign DNA into cells. Transfection may be accomplished by a variety of means known to the art including calcium phosphate-DNA co-precipitation, DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, polybrene-mediated transfection, glass beads, electroporation, microinjection, liposome fusion, lipofection, protoplast fusion, bacterial infection, viral infection, biolistics (i.e., particle bombardment) and the like. The terms “transfect” and “transform” (and grammatical equivalents, such as “transfected” and “transformed”) are used interchangeably.

The term “stable transfection” or “stably transfected” refers to the introduction and integration of foreign DNA into the genome of the transfected cell. The term “stable transfectant” refers to a cell that has stably integrated foreign DNA into the genomic DNA.

The term “transient transfection” or “transiently transfected” refers to the introduction of foreign DNA into a cell where the foreign DNA fails to integrate into the genome of the transfected cell. The foreign DNA persists in the nucleus of the transfected cell for several days. During this time the foreign DNA is subject to the regulatory controls that govern the expression of endogenous genes in the chromosomes. The term “transient transfectant” refers to cells that have taken up foreign DNA but have failed to integrate this DNA.

The term “transgene” as used herein refers to a foreign gene that is placed into an organism by introducing the foreign gene into newly fertilized eggs or early embryos. The term “foreign gene” refers to any nucleic acid (e.g., gene sequence) that is introduced into the genome of an animal by experimental manipulations and may include gene sequences found in that animal so long as the introduced gene does not reside in the same location as does the naturally-occurring gene.

The term “host cell” refers to any cell capable of replicating and/or transcribing and/or translating a heterologous gene. Thus, a “host cell” refers to any eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell (e.g., bacterial cells such as E. coli, yeast cells, mammalian cells, avian cells, amphibian cells, plant cells, fish cells, and insect cells), whether located in vitro or in vivo. For example, host cells may be located in a transgenic animal.

The terms “transformants” or “transformed cells” include the primary transformed cell and cultures derived from that cell without regard to the number of transfers. All progeny may not be precisely identical in DNA content, due to deliberate or inadvertent mutations. Mutant progeny that have the same functionality as screened for in the originally transformed cell are included in the definition of transformants.

The term “antisense” when used in reference to DNA refers to a sequence that is complementary to a sense strand of a DNA duplex. A “sense strand” of a DNA duplex refers to a strand in a DNA duplex that is transcribed by a cell in its natural state into a “sense mRNA.” Thus an “antisense” sequence is a sequence having the same sequence as the non-coding strand in a DNA duplex. The term “antisense RNA” refers to a RNA transcript that is complementary to all or part of a target primary transcript or mRNA and that blocks the expression of a target gene by interfering with the processing, transport and/or translation of its primary transcript or mRNA. The complementarity of an antisense RNA may be with any part of the specific gene transcript, i.e., at the 5′ non-coding sequence, 3′ non-coding sequence, introns, or the coding sequence. In addition, as used herein, antisense RNA may contain regions of ribozyme sequences that increase the efficacy of antisense RNA to block gene expression. “Ribozyme” refers to a catalytic RNA and includes sequence-specific endoribonucleases. “Antisense inhibition” refers to the production of antisense RNA transcripts capable of preventing the expression of the target protein.

The term “ds siRNA” refers to a siRNA molecule that comprises two separate unlinked strands of RNA which form a duplex structure, such that the siRNA molecule comprises two RNA polynucleotides.

The terms “hairpin siRNA” and “small hairpin RNA” and “shRNA” refer to a siRNA molecule that comprises at least one duplex region where the strands of the duplex are connected or contiguous at one or both ends, such that the siRNA molecule comprises a single RNA polynucleotide. The antisense sequence, or sequence which is complementary to a target RNA, is a part of the at least one double stranded region. Such “shRNA” may be a “full hairpin siRNA” that comprises a duplex or double stranded region of about 18-29 base pairs long, where the two strands are joined at one end by a linking sequence, or loop. At least one strand of the duplex region is an antisense strand, and either strand of the duplex region may be the antisense strand. The region linking the strands of the duplex, also referred to as a loop, may comprise one or more nucleotides (e.g., three nucleotides). The sequence of the loop may also a part of the antisense strand of the duplex region, and thus is itself complementary to a target RNA molecule. The “shRNA” may also be a “partial hairpin siRNA” comprising an antisense sequence (or a region or strand complementary to a target RNA) of about 18-25 bases long, and which forms less than a full hairpin structure with the antisense sequence. In some embodiments, the antisense sequence itself forms a duplex structure of some or most of the antisense sequence. In other embodiments, the siRNA comprises at least one additional contiguous sequence or region, where at least part of the additional sequence(s) is complementary to part of the antisense sequence.

The term “mismatch” when used in reference to siRNAs refers to the presence of a base in one strand of a duplex region of which at least one strand of an siRNA is a member, where the mismatched base does not pair with the corresponding base in the complementary strand, where pairing is determined by the general base-pairing rules. The term “mismatch” also refers to the presence of at least one additional base in one strand of a duplex region of which at least one strand of an siRNA is a member, where the mismatched base does not pair with any base in the complementary strand, or to a deletion of at least one base in one strand of a duplex region which results in at least one base of the complementary strand being without a base pair. A mismatch may be present in either the sense strand, or antisense strand, or both strands, of an siRNA. If more than one mismatch is present in a duplex region, the mismatches may be immediately adjacent to each other, or they may be separated by from one to more than one nucleotide. Thus, in some embodiments, a mismatch is the presence of a base in the antisense strand of an siRNA which does not pair with the corresponding base in the complementary strand of the target siRNA. In other embodiments, a mismatch is the presence of a base in the sense strand, when present, which does not pair with the corresponding base in the antisense strand of the siRNA. In yet other embodiments, a mismatch is the presence of a base in the antisense strand that does not pair with the corresponding base in the same antisense strand in a foldback hairpin siRNA.

The terms “nucleotide” and “base” are used interchangeably when used in reference to a nucleic acid sequence.

The term “strand selectivity” refers to the presence of at least one mismatch in either an antisense or a sense strand of a siRNA molecule. The presence of at least one mismatch in an antisense strand results in decreased inhibition of target gene expression.

The term “cellular destination signal” is a portion of an RNA molecule that directs the transport of an RNA molecule out of the nucleus, or that directs the retention of an RNA molecule in the nucleus; such signals may also direct an RNA molecule to a particular subcellular location. Such a signal may be an encoded signal, or it might be added post-transciptionally.

As used herein, the term “RNAi regulator” refers to the nucleic acid (e.g., mRNA, DNA, etc.) and amino acid sequence of a protein capable of altering RNAi identified by the systems and methods of the present invention (e.g., HPS1 and HPS4). RNAi regulators comprise genes and proteins capable of altering (e.g., restricting, limiting, suppressing or enhancing) RNAi within a cell.

As used herein, the terms “host,” “subject” and “patient” refer to any animal, including but not limited to, human and non-human animals (e.g. rodents, arthropods, insects (e.g., Diptera), fish (e.g., zebrafish), non-human primates, ovines, bovines, ruminants, lagomorphs, porcines, caprines, equines, canines, felines, ayes, etc.), that is studied, analyzed, tested, diagnosed or treated. As used herein, the terms “host,” “subject” and “patient” are used interchangeably, unless indicated otherwise herein.

As used herein, the term “non-human animals” refers to all non-human animals including, but are not limited to, vertebrates such as rodents, non-human primates, ovines, bovines, ruminants, lagomorphs, porcines, caprines, equines, canines, felines, ayes, etc.

As used herein, the term “effective amount” refers to the amount of a composition (e.g., comprising a an RNAi regulator inhibitor) sufficient to effect beneficial or desired results. An effective amount can be administered in one or more administrations, applications or dosages and is not intended to be limited to a particular formulation or administration route.

As used herein, the terms “administration” and “administering” refer to the act of giving a drug, prodrug, test compound or other agent, or therapeutic treatment (e.g., compositions of the present invention) to a cell or subject (e.g., a subject or in vivo, in vitro, or ex vivo cells, tissues, and organs). Exemplary routes of administration to the human body can be through the eyes (ophthalmic), mouth (oral), skin (transdermal), nose (nasal), lungs (inhalant), oral mucosa (buccal), ear, rectal, by injection (e.g., intravenously, subcutaneously, intratumorally, intraperitoneally, etc.) and the like.

As used herein, the terms “co-administration” and “co-administering” refer to the administration of at least two agent(s) (e.g., composition comprising an RNAi regulator inhibitor (e.g., siRNA) and one or more other agents—e.g., a non-RNAi regulator siRNA) or therapies to a cell or subject. In some embodiments, the co-administration of two or more agents or therapies is concurrent. In other embodiments, a first agent/therapy is administered prior to a second agent/therapy. Those of skill in the art understand that the formulations and/or routes of administration of the various agents or therapies used may vary. The appropriate dosage for co-administration can be readily determined by one skilled in the art. In some embodiments, when agents or therapies are co-administered, the respective agents or therapies are administered at lower dosages than appropriate for their administration alone. Thus, co-administration is especially desirable in embodiments where the co-administration of the agents or therapies lowers the requisite dosage of a potentially harmful (e.g., toxic) agent(s), and/or when co-administration of two or more agents results in sensitization of a subject to beneficial effects of one of the agents via co-administration of the other agent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

RNAi provides a powerful approach to rational drug design. For example, a multitude of diseases that involve aberrant gene expression may benefit from RNA-based compounds used as therapeutics. To date, many researches have utilized RNAi in multiple applications (e.g., as a tool for functional genomics). RNAi also holds great potential in therapeutic and clinical applications (e.g., in drug development and therapeutic treatments). However, one significant drawback to RNAi is that its effect on gene expression is rarely, if ever, completely potent. This limitation, observed widely, is problematic when a cessation of gene expression is desired or required. Thus, there exists a need to improve RNAi efficacy, and in the process create research and clinically useful products (e.g., research tools and therapeutics) that potentiate RNA-based treatments. Systems and methods that provide any level of enhancement in function find use (e.g., as an adjuvant) in a wide range of RNAi applications.

Rational design of therapeutic drugs against known molecular targets is a powerful means to develop effective treatment strategies for modern health. Rational design necessitates a detailed knowledge of target structure/function, which often limits this strategy. An RNA-based mechanism of gene regulation, RNA interference (RNAi), promises to become a radically new and powerful approach to rational drug design. Quite simply, for the multitude of diseases that involve aberrant gene expression, RNA-based compounds can be used as therapeutics. The advantages of this approach over other design approaches include, for example, simple nucleic acid based chemistry for drug synthesis; versatile delivery (e.g., local (e.g., gene vector or topical), or systemic (e.g., intravenous RNA or gene vector)); the ability to target any type of gene (e.g., pathogen-associated gene or endogenous gene (e.g., normal or mutant)) and combination of genes (e.g., multiplex); and extraordinary target specificity based on nucleic acid hybridization.

RNAi was discovered in 1998 as a gene silencing phenomenon in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans (See, e.g., Fire, et al., Nature 391, 806-811 (1998)). Later in 1998, it was established that RNAi exists in other species such as Drosophila melanogaster (See, e.g., Kennerdell and Carthew, Cell 95, 1017-1026 (1998)). A few years later, RNAi was discovered to be a potent process in mammals and humans (See, e.g., Elbashir et al., Nature 411, 494-498 (2001)).

Both large and small efforts to understand gene function have been aided by the ability to silence individual gene expression by RNAi. The potential for this type of application continues to grow. However, one of the biggest opportunities for RNAi as a technology application is in drug development. There are numerous examples where RNAi has been effective in cell-based models, including, but not limited to, for virus infection (e.g., including, but not limited to, HIV, SARS, Influenza, Hepatitis), cancer, macular degeneration, and hypercholesterolemia (See, e.g., Jacque et al., Nature 418, 435-438 (2002); Gitlin et al., Nature 418, 430-434 (2002); Brummelkamp et al., Cancer Cell 2, 243-7 (2002); Eskandarpour et al., Int J Cancer 115, 65-73 (2005); Soutschek et al., Nature 432, 173-8 (2004); Shankar et al., JAMA 293, 1367-73 (2005)). Recently, an animal model for hypercholesterolemia was effectively treated by intravenous injection of RNA-based drugs (See, e.g., Soutschek et al., Nature 432, 173-8 (2004)). Furthermore, several companies are actively testing RNA based drugs to treat human disease (e.g., macular degeneration). Thus, RNA can be used to treat a variety of human diseases and disorders.

However, one significant drawback to RNAi in many species, including humans, is that gene expression is rarely 100% repressed (See, e.g., Novina and Sharp, Nature 430, 161-4 (2004)). This limitation, observed widely, is problematic when a complete or nearly complete cessation of gene expression is desired or required. Clearly, for many research, agricultural, and therapeutic applications, partial gene silencing or low levels of silencing is unsatisfactory. Addressing the issue of RNAi performance in the marketplace necessitates addressing issues of RNAi efficacy. Thus, there exists a need to improve RNAi efficacy, and in the process create commercially useful and beneficial products that potentiate RNA-based treatments.

RNAi

RNAi is a widespread natural mechanism in which RNA regulates gene expression. When RNA is utilized by the RNAi mechanism, it represses or silences the expression of genes that are complementary in sequence to the regulatory RNA (See, e.g., Nakahara and Carthew, Curr Opin Cell Biol 16, 127-33 (2004)). Most often, gene repression occurs via degradation of complementary mRNA transcripts, thus preventing protein product synthesis (See, e.g., Carthew, et al., Curr Opin Cell Biol 13, 244-248 (2001)). A signature feature of the regulatory RNA is that it is in the form of a duplex. If double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is present, then it is processed into small RNA fragments, 21-25 nucleotides in length, by a class of RNaseIII enzymes called the Dicer family (SEE FIG. 1). Dicer enzymes cleave dsRNA molecules into fragments that are double-stranded, contain 5′-phosphorylated termini, and have 3′ overhangs two nucleotides in length (See, e.g., Hannon, Nature 418, 244-251 (2002)). These RNA fragments, called short interfering (siRNAs), are sufficient to substitute for dsRNA in causing mRNA transcript degradation. Thus, siRNAs are thought to be the direct guides that identify mRNA substrates for degradation.

Once siRNAs are formed, they associate into a nuclease complex dubbed RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that recognizes and cleaves mRNAs (SEE FIG. 1). This ribonucleoprotein complex forms by a stepwise pathway in Drosophila melanogaster (See, e.g., Lee, et al. Cell 117, 83-94 (2004); Pham et al., Cell 117, 83-94 (2004)). First, siRNA associates with a heterodimer of the Dicer-2 and R2D2 proteins to form a RDI ternary complex. Second, unknown factors bind to this initiator complex to form the RISC-Loading Complex (RLC). Finally, the RLC is converted into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which is capable of binding and cleaving mRNA substrates. Conversion requires ATP and the protein Ago-2, which is also the RISC subunit directly responsible for mRNA target cleavage. The nascent siRNA is unwound during this step, and only one of the two strands is retained within RISC (See, e.g., Lee, et al. Cell 117, 83-94 (2004)). Although assembly requires these three steps, others may occur that are nevertheless not detected by current analyses. Assembly of RISC in other species, including human, likely occurs through similar mechanisms. For example, it has been shown that human Dicer forms similar complexes with siRNAs that potentially initiate RISC assembly (See, e.g., Pellino, et al., RNA 11(11):1719-1724 (2005)).

Cleavage of mRNA substrate by RISC is endonucleolytic and occurs at a central site in the region homologous to the siRNA (SEE FIG. 1). Ago-2 catalyzes this reaction (See, e.g., Liu et al. Science 305, 1437-41 (2004); Song et al., Science 305, 1434-1437 (2004)) generating two mRNA fragments that are subsequently degraded. RISC is then able to bind and cleave other mRNA substrates with multiple turnover (See, e.g., Hutvagner et al., Science 297, 2056-2060 (2002)).

Numerous biological functions have been implicated for RNAi, including genome surveillance (e.g., the continual monitoring for expression of foreign genes and consequent silencing) (See, e.g., Carthew, et al., Curr Opin Cell Biol 13, 244-248 (2001)). As such, viruses may be a primary target for RNAi. RNAi has also been linked to suppression of transposon invasion in C. elegans and D. melanogaster (See, e.g., Ketting et al., Cell 99, 133-141 (1999); Ketting and Plasterk, Nature 404, 296-298 (2000); Pal-Bhadra et al., Mol Cell 9, 315-327 (2002)). In C. elegans, some RNAi-deficient strains are ‘mutators’ due to the increased mobility of endogenous transposons. RNAi also plays a role in the normal regulation of endogenous genes, which impacts on various cell and organism activities (See, e.g., Sontheimer and Carthew, Cell 122, 9-12 (2005)).

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are also active in RNAi. miRNAs are evolutionarily conserved, small RNAs, typically 21-23 nt in length, that are non-coding RNA molecules found in eukaryotes. Although an understanding of the mechanism is not necessary to practice the present invention and the present invention is not limited to any particular mechanism of action, in some embodiments, miRNAs regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally at the level of translational inhibition at P-Bodies in the cytoplasm. In some embodiments, miRNAs guide mRNA cleavage similar to siRNAs. miRNA and various applications utilizing miRNA are described have been described (see, e.g., Carthew, Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2006 April; 16(2):203-8; Sarnow et al., Nat Rev Microbiol. 2006 September; 4(9):651-9; Calin and Croce, and Cancer Res. 2006 Aug. 1; 66(15):7390-4; Lee and Dutta, Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2006 June; 7(6):560-4, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

The use of either siRNAs or shRNAs or miRNAs holds great promise for research (e.g., to assay mammalian gene function) and therapeutic applications on a scale heretofore unimaginable. Yet, as described above, an inherent limitation to RNAi in many species is that typically, gene expression is only partially repressed (See, e.g., Novina and Sharp, Nature 430, 161-4 (2004)).

Systems and Methods of Identifying RNAi Regulators

One model system used is Drosophila melanogaster. This species has a powerful arsenal of genetic tools to discover gene function. Its RNAi mechanism is similar, if not identical, to mammalian RNAi. To date, every RNAi factor found in Drosophila has a similar function in mammalian RNAi. Finally, the most powerful biochemical assays for RNAi have been developed using extracts from Drosophila tissues. For all of these reasons, those of skill in the art appreciate that RNAi genes (e.g., genes involved in any of the stepwise processes of RNAi described above) in Drosophila can be identified and thoroughly characterized for use in understanding their mammalian counterparts.

Systems and methods utilized by the present invention to discover RNAi regulator genes have used saturation mutagenesis and find mutant variants (e.g., recessive mutants) that exhibit altered RNAi. A high-throughput screen that saturates the genome with mutations is contemplated to be an efficient and extensive means to identify such genes. A component for conducting this type of screen is the ability to induce a uniform RNAi response. Moreover, thousands of animals should be screened, which necessitates inducing RNAi on a large scale. In Drosophila, this limitation was overcome by enforced transcription of a double-stranded RNAi molecule, usually as an inverted repeat sequence that forms a hairpin structure in vivo (See, e.g., Kennerdell and Carthew, Nat Biotechnol 18, 896-898 (2000)). This concept can be adapted to mammalian cells using expression vectors that express short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) (See, e.g., Miyagishi and Taira, Nat Biotechnol 20, 497-500 (2002); Paddison et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99, 1443-1448 (2002); Paul et al., Nat Biotechnol 20, 505-508 (2002)).

To target a reporter gene for RNAi, the white gene was chosen based on several criteria. The white gene encodes an ABC transporter required cell-autonomously to pigment the adult compound eye (See, e.g., Mackenzie et al., Genetica 108, 239-52 (2000)). A white⁺ eye is dark red in color while a null white mutant is completely white. This phenotype is easily scored. Loss of white has no impact on viability or fertility. Finally, mutant alleles with reduced activity can be ordered by a phenotypic series: red, orange, white. A semiquantitative relationship exists between expression level and phenotype such that partially reduced expression results in an intermediate phenotype (See, e.g., Mackenzie et al., Biochim Biophys Acta 1419, 173-85. (1999)). One exon of the white gene was repeated in a tail-to-tail orientation separated by an intron (See Example 1, and FIG. 3A). The tail-to-tail repeat was placed into a transformation vector and transformed into white⁺ flies. Transformant lines with one copy of the white RNAi transgene exhibited an orange eye color (partial silencing), whereas transformants bearing two copies of the transgene were almost identical to white mutants (complete silencing) (See Example 1, FIG. 3B-E).

The screen is based on a strategy to create flies that are heterozygous but in which the compound eye is composed of cells homozygous mutant for one of the five major chromosomal arms (See, e.g., Lee, et al. Cell 117, 83-94 (2004)). The mutagenized flies also contained one copy of the white RNAi transgene. These flies ordinarily exhibit an orange eye color, due to partial silencing of white (See Example 1, FIG. 3D). Using the systems and methods of the present invention, it is possible to screen for mutant flies in which the eye color was changed from orange to red, indicating a loss of silencing (See Example 1, FIG. 3B-E). The effectiveness of the genetic screen was validated by finding mutant alleles in the two Dicer genes (See, e.g., Lee, et al. Cell 117, 83-94 (2004); Pham et al., Cell 117, 83-94 (2004)), Ago-2 (See, e.g., Liu et al. Science 305, 1437-41 (2004)), and R2D2 (See, e.g., Liu et al., Science 301, 1921-5 (2003)), all of which are known RNAi factors.

It was contemplated that RNAi inhibitors could be discovered using this strategy. It was reasoned that all organisms might contain factors that normally restrict or limit the potency of RNAi, as different species within the same genus can exhibit radically different RNAi responsiveness and mutant variants of the nematode C. elegans display enhanced RNAi responsiveness in neurons and other tissues (See, e.g., Simmer et al., Curr Biol 12, 1317 (2002); Kennedy et al., Nature 427, 645-9 (2004)). Therefore, the systems and methods of the present invention were generated in order to identify such inhibitory genes by finding mutations that enhanced RNAi in Drosophila. For example, in some embodiments, these mutant flies have their eye color changed from yellow to white (complete silencing), despite carrying only a single white inverted-repeat transgene. The screen was conducted on three autosomal arms representing 60% of the genome. Enhancer mutations were isolated that displayed white eyes (See Examples 1-2, and FIG. 3C). Once the mutant stocks were established, they were retested for their ability to enhance the phenotype induced by RNAi against a totally different gene called Csk. If mutants also enhanced the Csk (RNAi) phenotype, it indicated that the mutants are general enhancers of RNAi and do not affect unrelated phenomena such as white hairpin RNA transcription or pigment metabolism. In some embodiments, these mutants are examined further. For example, complementation analysis can be performed to classify mutations as allelic.

Thus, the present invention provides systems and methods for identifying regulators of RNAi (e.g., inhibitors of RNAi). In some embodiments, an F1 genetic mosaic screen is used to identify RNAi regulators (e.g., See Example 1). The present invention is not limited to the F1 genetic mosaic screen of Example 1. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations of the described F1 genetic mosaic screen system, and methods of using the same, may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The present invention has identified multiple regulators of RNAi (e.g., activators and inhibitors) using the above described systems and methods.

For example, in some embodiments, the present invention provides HPS4 and similar agents as a regulator (e.g., inhibitor) of RNAi (See, e.g., Example 2). In some embodiments, the present invention provides HPS1 and similar agents as a regulator (e.g., inhibitor) of RNAi (See, e.g., Examples 2 and 4). In some embodiments, the present invention provides CG6969 and similar agents as a regulator (e.g., inhibitor) of RNAi (See, e.g., Example 9). In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing (e.g., augmenting and/or increasing the efficacy) of RNAi. For example, in some embodiments, the present invention provides a method of enhancing RNAi (e.g., augmenting and/or enhancing gene silencing) comprising altering (e.g., inhibiting or suppressing) the expression and/or activity of an RNAi regulator (e.g., HPS4 and/or HPS1 and/or CG6969). Although an understanding of the mechanism is not necessary to practice the present invention and the present invention is not limited to any particular mechanism of action, in some preferred embodiments, altering (e.g., inhibiting) the expression and/or activity of HPS1 and/or HPS4 and/or CG6969 increases the rate of holo-RISC complex activity, thereby enhancing RNAi. The present invention is not limited to any particular method or composition for altering (e.g., inhibiting) the expression and/or activity of HPS1, HPS4, CG6969 or other RNAi regulator identified by the methods provided herein. Indeed, a variety of methods are contemplated to be useful for altering (e.g., inhibiting) the expression and/or activity of RNAi regulators including, but not limited to, antibodies, small molecules, siRNA and/or miRNA (e.g., specific for HPS1 and/or HPS4 and/or CG6969), and methods of using the same (e.g., antibody or small molecule based inhibition of HPS1 and/or HPS4 activity or RNAi).

The ability to inhibit gene function by RNAi using siRNAs and/or miRNAs synthesized in host cells and/or administered to cells is contemplated to have broad application. For example, in some embodiments, this approach facilitates studies of gene function in transfectable cell lines. In other embodiments, this approach is adaptable to situations for which delivery of in vitro synthesized siRNAs by transfection may not be practical, such as primary cell cultures, studies in intact animals, and gene therapy (ex vivo and in vivo).

Previous results with siRNA suggest that intracellular expression of siRNA against a wide variety of targets will be effective at reducing or eliminating expression of the RNAi regulator targets (e.g., HPS1, HPS4, or other RNAi regulator identified using the systems and methods disclosed herein). In some embodiments of the present invention, an expression cassette is used in combination with different recombinant DNA vectors to target different cell populations. It is contemplated that either one or more than one expression cassettes are inserted in a vector (the cassettes are relatively small); the siRNA encoded by the expression cassette is directed either to the same target (different stretches of RNA on the same target RNA) or to entirely different targets (e.g., multiple RNAi regulators). It is further contemplated that this method of expressing siRNAs from various expression gene cassettes is useful in both experimental and therapeutic applications. Experimental applications include the use of the compositions and methods of the present invention to the field of reverse genetic analysis of genes found in the human genome sequence. Therapeutic applications include the use of the compositions and methods of the present invention in any setting in which gene silencing is contemplated to be useful by those of skill in the art (e.g., including, but not limited to, as antiviral agents, antibacterial agents, or as means to silence undesirable genes such as oncogenes).

Inhibition of RNAi Regulator Expression and/or Activity for Altering (e.g., Enhancing) RNAi

Experiments conducted using systems and methods of the present invention identified several RNAi regulators (e.g., HPS1, HPS4 and CG6969). Thus, in preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a method of enhancing RNAi comprising altering (e.g., enhancing or inhibiting) RNAi regulator expression and/or activity. In other preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a method of enhancing RNAi in a cell (e.g., enhancing the silencing (e.g., suppressing the expression) of a target gene (e.g., a non-RNAi regulator gene)) comprising providing an inhibitor of RNAi regulator (e.g., HPS1 and/or HPS4 and/or CG6969) expression and/or activity under conditions such that RNAi in the cell is enhanced (e.g., the inhibition of expression of the target gene is enhanced). Thus, in some preferred embodiments, the present invention provides inhibitors (e.g., siRNAs, antibodies, small molecules, and the like) for use as adjuvants in altering (e.g., boosting or enhancing) RNAi performance within a cell. In still other preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subject receiving an RNA based treatment (e.g., RNAi of a target gene (e.g., comprising administration of a miRNA to the subject (e.g., for the treatment of cancer or hypercholesterolemia))) comprising providing to the subject an inhibitor of an RNAi regulator (e.g., HPS1 and/or HPS4 and/or CG6969) under conditions such that the RNA based treatment (e.g., miRNA) is enhanced (e.g., in some embodiments, target gene expression (e.g., a non-RNAi regulator gene (e.g., an oncogene or aberrantly expressed gene)) is silenced or repressed to a greater extent than in the absence of the RNAi regulator inhibitor). In some embodiments, the target gene is silenced (e.g., gene expression is inhibited) greater than 90%. In some embodiments, the target gene is silenced greater than 95%. In some embodiments, the target gene is silenced greater than 98%. In some embodiments, the target gene is silenced greater than 99%. In some embodiments, silencing is increased 5%, 10%, 100%, 300% or more in the presence of an RNAi regulator inhibitor compared to the expression in its absence.

In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a method of enhancing RNAi in a cell comprising altering RNAi regulator expression and/or activity in the cell. In some embodiments, altering RNAi regulator expression and/or activity comprises reducing RNAi regulator expression and/or activity. In some embodiments, altering RNAi regulator expression and/or activity comprises providing to the cell a composition comprising an RNAi regulator inhibitor. The present invention is not limited by the type of RNAi regulator inhibitor used to inhibit RNAi regulator activity and/or expression for enhancing RNAi in a cell. Indeed, any compound, pharmaceutical, small molecule or agent (e.g., siRNA) that can alter RNAi regulator expression and/or activity is contemplated to be useful in the methods of the present invention. Examples of inhibitors of RNAi regulator expression and/or activity that find use in enhancing RNAi in cells (e.g, for delivering to and/or providing—e.g., expressing within cells) include, but are not limited to, dominant-negative RNAi regulator or derivative thereof, antisense nucleic acids (including, but not limited to, siRNAs described herein, ribozymes and triple-helix-forming oligonucleotides), anti-RNAi regulator antibodies (e.g., antibodies described herein, as well as intracellular single chain Fv antibodies, See, e.g., Chen, Mol. Med. Today 3:160-167, 1997; Spitz et al., Anticancer Res. 16:3415-3422, 1996; Indolfi et al., Nat. Med. 2:634-635, 1996; Kijima et al., Pharmacol. Ther. 68:247-267, 1995, each of which is herein incorporated by reference), small molecule inhibitors (See, e.g., Nature Cell Biology 7, 493-500, 2005, herein incorporated by reference), and RNAi regulator inhibitors identified by the methods of U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,311, and U.S. Pat. App. Nos. 20030157577, 20040014701, 20040002492, 20050054657, and 20050148020, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, altering RNAi regulator expression and/or activity comprises providing to a cell RNAi regulator specific siRNAs. In some embodiments, the siRNAs reduce expression of one or more RNAi regulators (e.g., HPS1 and/or HPS4 and/or CG6969). In some embodiments, altering RNAi regulator expression and/or activity comprises providing to the cell an antibody specific for a RNAi regulator. In some embodiments, the antibody reduces activity of a RNAi regulator in the cell. In some embodiments, altering RNAi regulator expression and/or activity in the cell sensitizes the cell to therapeutic treatment. In some embodiments, sensitizing the cell to therapeutic treatment permits the cell to undergo treatment-induced cell death. In some embodiments, altering RNAi regulator expression and/or activity works in concert with another treatment (e.g., siRNA and/or miRNA) thereby providing beneficial treatment to a subject.

In some embodiments, the present invention also provides a method of treating a subject with symptoms of a disease (e.g., symptoms associated with cancer, or symptoms associated with any disease caused in part by aberrant gene expression) comprising providing a composition comprising an inhibitor of a RNAi regulator; and administering the composition to the subject under conditions such that the symptoms are reduced (e.g., in combination with a therapeutic RNA molecule).

In some embodiments, the present invention also provides a method of treating a subject with aberrant gene expression (e.g., overexpression of a cancer gene (e.g., an oncogene (e.g., including, but not limited to, abl, Bcl-2, Bcl-x1, erb, brca1, brca2, fms, gsp, hst, jun, myc, neu, raf, ras, ret, src, and trk))) comprising providing a composition comprising an inhibitor of a RNAi regulator; and administering the composition to the subject under conditions such that the RNAi regulator expression and/or activity is altered. In preferred embodiments, the composition comprising an inhibitor of a RNAi regulator is co-administered with one or more inhibitors (e.g., siRNAs and/or miRNAs) that target (e.g., for repression of gene expression) a gene that is aberrantly expressed

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions suitable for therapy (e.g., drug, prodrug, pharmaceutical, or gene therapy) to alter RNAi regulator gene expression, production, or function (e.g., to inhibit RNAi regulator expression and/or activity). In some embodiments, even the smallest amount of regulation (e.g., inhibition of RNAi regulator expression and/or activity) finds use in enhancing an RNAi therapy (e.g., a siRNA and/or miRNA therapy).

In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions comprising expression cassettes comprising a nucleic acid encoding an inhibitor of a RNAi regulator (e.g., siRNAs, peptides and the like), and vectors comprising such expression cassettes. The methods described below are generally applicable across many species. Any of the vectors and delivery methods disclosed herein can be used for modulation of RNAi regulator activity (e.g., in a therapeutic setting). As disclosed herein, the therapeutic methods of the invention are optimally achieved by targeting the therapy to the affected cells. Means for targeting delivery of various treatments, such as radiation or chemotherapy, are described below. However, in another embodiment, a RNAi regulator inhibitor can be targeted to cells (e.g., using vectors described herein in combination with well-known targeting techniques, for expression of RNAi regulator modulators).

Furthermore, any of the therapies described herein can be tested and developed in animal models. Thus, the therapeutic aspects of the invention also provide assays for RNAi regulator function.

In some embodiments, viral vectors are used to introduce RNAi regulator inhibitors (e.g., siRNAs, proteins or fragments thereof, etc,) to cells. The present invention further provides a method for altering responsiveness of a cell to treatment (e.g., a cancer cell) comprising altering the levels of a RNAi regulator in the cell (e.g., through inhibiting RNAi regulator expression using RNAi). The art knows well multiple methods of altering the level of expression of a gene or protein in a cell (e.g., ectopic or heterologous expression of a gene). The following are provided as exemplary methods of introducing RNAi regulator inhibitors, and the invention is not limited to any particular method.

RNA Based Inhibitors of RNAi Regulators

In some embodiments, the present invention relates to compositions comprising siRNA. For example, the present invention provides siRNA comprising nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a RNAi regulator (e.g., HPS1 and/or HPS4 and/or CG6969 or other RNAi regulator identified by the systems and methods of the present invention, See, e.g., Example 5), recombinant nucleic acid comprising a vector and nucleic acid sequence for expressing RNAi regulator siRNA, pharmaceutical compositions comprising RNAi regulator siRNA, kits comprising such compositions, and methods of using the same in research and/or therapeutic applications.

The present invention discloses siRNA, wherein the siRNA comprises a sense RNA strand and an antisense RNA strand, wherein the sense and the antisense RNA strands form an RNA duplex (e.g., dsRNA), and wherein the duplex comprises a complementary nucleotide sequence that is complementary to at least a part of RNAi regulator mRNA sequence or equivalent sequences, and wherein the complementary nucleotide sequence is less than 25 nucleotides in length, as well as compositions and methods for inhibiting the expression of a RNAi regulator in a cell using the dsRNA. The present invention also discloses compositions and methods for modifying levels of RNAi regulator (e.g., in order to enhance RNAi within a cell). siRNA/dsRNA and/or miRNA of the present invention directs the sequence-specific degradation of RNAi regulator mRNA through RNA interference (RNAi).

In some embodiments, compositions of the present invention comprise dsRNA that hybridizes to RNAi regulator mRNA. For example, in some embodiments, the dsRNA of the invention comprises an RNA strand comprising a complementary nucleotide sequence having a region which is less than 25 nucleotides in length and is complementary to at least a portion of RNAi regulator RNA transcripts. The use of these dsRNAs enables the targeted degradation of RNAi regulator mRNA. Very low dosages of these dsRNA can specifically and efficiently mediate RNAi, resulting in significant inhibition of expression of RNAi regulator (See, e.g., Example 5). The dsRNA of the present invention not only reduce the level of RNAi regulator, they also enhance RNAi inhibition of expression of a target gene (e.g., an aberrantly expressed gene or other gene within a cell (See, e.g., Examples 3-4). Thus, the present invention encompasses these dsRNAs and compositions comprising dsRNA and their use for specifically silencing a RNAi regulator. Moreover, the dsRNAs of the invention have no apparent effect on neighboring normal cells. Thus, the methods and compositions of the present invention comprising these dsRNAs are useful for treating cellular proliferative and/or differentiation disorders, such as cancer.

The following detailed description discloses how to make and use the siRNA/dsRNA/miRNA of the present invention and compositions containing dsRNA to inhibit the expression of RNAi regulator. In some embodiments, The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a dsRNA having an RNA strand comprising a complementary nucleotide sequence that is less than 25 nucleotides in length and is complementary to at least a portion of a RNAi regulator RNA transcript of RNAi regulator, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical composition may comprise a combination of dsRNAs having regions complementary to a plurality of sites within a RNAi regulator. The compositions of the present invention can be used in combination with other known therapeutic agents (e.g., siRNA and/or chemotherapeutic agents).

Accordingly, certain aspects of the present invention relate to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the dsRNA of the present invention, or vectors containing the same, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, methods of using the compositions to inhibit expression of a RNAi regulator, and methods of using the pharmaceutical compositions to treat diseases caused by expression (e.g., aberrant expression) of a target gene.

A. Pharmaceutical Compositions Comprising dsRNA

1. Double-Stranded Ribonucleic Acid (dsRNA)

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a RNA duplex/double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) having a nucleotide sequence which is substantially identical to at least a portion of a RNAi regulator. The dsRNA comprises two RNA strands that are sufficiently complementary to hybridize to form the duplex structure. One strand of the dsRNA comprises the nucleotide sequence that is substantially identical to a portion of the target gene (the “sense” strand), and the other strand (the “complementary” or “antisense” strand) comprises a complementary nucleotide sequence that is complementary to an RNA transcript of the target gene. The complementary region is between 19 and 24, preferably between 21 and 23, and most preferably 22 nucleotides in length. The dsRNA is less than 30 nucleotides, preferably less than 25 nucleotides, and most preferably between 21 and 24 nucleotides in length. The dsRNA can be synthesized by standard methods known in the art, e.g., by use of an automated DNA synthesizer, such as are commercially available from Biosearch, Applied Biosystems, Inc, etc.

In one embodiment, at least one end of the dsRNA has a single-stranded nucleotide overhang of 1 to 7, preferably 1 or 2 nucleotides. dsRNAs having at least one nucleotide overhang have unexpectedly superior inhibitory properties than their blunt-ended counterparts. dsRNA having only one overhang has proven particularly stable and effective in vivo, as well as in a variety of cells, cell culture mediums, blood, and serum. Preferably, the single-stranded overhang is located at the 3′-terminal end of the complementary (antisense) RNA strand or, alternatively, at the 3′-terminal end of the second (sense) strand. The dsRNA may also have a blunt end, preferably located at the 5′-end of the complementary (antisense) strand. Such dsRNAs have improved stability and inhibitory activity, thus allowing administration at low dosages, e.g., less than 5 mg/kg body weight of the recipient per day. Preferably, the complementary strand of the dsRNA has a nucleotide overhang at the 3′-end, and the 5′-end is blunt. In another embodiment, one or more of the nucleotides in the overhang is replaced with a nucleoside thiophosphate.

In yet another embodiment, the dsRNA is chemically modified for improved stability, e.g., enhanced resistance to degradation and/or strand dissociation. In this embodiment, the integrity of the duplex structure is strengthened by at least one, and preferably two, chemical linkages. Chemical linking may be achieved by any of a variety of well-known techniques, for example by introducing covalent, ionic or hydrogen bonds; hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals or stacking interactions; by means of metal-ion coordination, or through use of purine analogues. In one embodiment, the linker is a hexa-ethylene glycol linker. In this case, the dsRNAs are produced by solid phase synthesis and the hexa-ethylene glycol linker is incorporated according to standard methods (See, e.g., Williams, D. J., and K. B. Hall, Biochem. (1996) 35:14665-14670). In a preferred embodiment, the 5′-end of the complementary (antisense) RNA strand and the 3′-end of the second (sense) RNA strand are chemically linked via a hexa-ethylene glycol linker. In yet another preferred embodiment, the dsRNA is linked via a single stranded nucleic acid forming a loop or hairpin structure.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a dsRNA, as described in the preceding section, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as described below. The pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA is useful for treating a disease or disorder associated with the expression of a target gene (e.g., aberrant expression of an oncogene).

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least two dsRNAs, designed to target different regions of a RNAi regulator, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A composition comprising a plurality of dsRNA that target multiple regions of a RNAi regulator may provide improved efficiency of treatment as compared to compositions comprising only a single dsRNA. In addition, a composition may be generated that includes a dsRNA specific for a RNAi regulator as well as a dsRNA specific for a target gene(s) (e.g., an oncogene). The multiple dsRNAs may be combined in the same pharmaceutical composition, or formulated separately. If formulated individually, the compositions containing the separate dsRNAs may comprise the same or different carriers, and may be administered using the same or different routes of administration. Moreover, the pharmaceutical compositions comprising the individual dsRNAs may be administered substantially simultaneously, sequentially, or at preset intervals throughout the day or treatment period. The present invention contemplates use of RNAi regulator specific dsRNAs of the present invention in combinatorial use with dsRNA for any gene or combination of genes.

2. Recombinant Nucleic Acids Comprising a Vector and Nucleic Acid Sequence for Expressing dsRNA

In some embodiments, the dsRNA of the invention can be obtained using a number of techniques known to those of skill in the art. For example, the dsRNA can be chemically synthesized or recombinantly produced using methods known in the art, such as the Drosophila in vitro system described in U.S. published application 2002/0086356 of Tuschl et al., the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, the dsRNA of the invention are chemically synthesized using appropriately protected ribonucleoside phosphoramidites and a conventional DNA/RNA synthesizer. The dsRNA can be synthesized as two separate, complementary RNA molecules, or as a single RNA molecule with two complementary regions. Commercial suppliers of synthetic RNA molecules or synthesis reagents include Proligo (Hamburg, Germany), Dharmacon Research (Lafayette, Colo., USA), Pierce Chemical (part of Perbio Science, Rockford, Ill., USA), Glen Research (Sterling, Va., USA), ChemGenes (Ashland, Mass., USA) and Cruachem (Glasgow, UK).

In preferred embodiments, dsRNA is expressed from recombinant circular or linear DNA plasmids using any suitable promoter. Suitable promoters for expressing dsRNA of the invention from a plasmid include, for example, the U6 or H1 RNA pol III promoter sequences and the cytomegalovirus promoter. Selection of other suitable promoters is within the skill in the art (e.g., use of regulatable or tissue-specific promoters). The recombinant plasmids of the invention can also comprise inducible or regulatable promoters for expression of the dsRNA in a particular tissue or in a particular intracellular environment.

dsRNA of the invention can be expressed from a recombinant plasmid either as two separate, complementary RNA molecules, or as a single RNA molecule with two complementary regions.

Selection of plasmids suitable for expressing dsRNA of the invention, methods for inserting nucleic acid sequences for expressing the dsRNA into the plasmid, and methods of delivering the recombinant plasmid to the cells of interest are within the skill in the art (See, e.g., Tuschl, T. (2002), Nat. Biotechnol, 20: 446-448; Brummelkamp T R et al. (2002), Science 296: 550-553; Miyagishi M et al. (2002), Nat. Biotechnol. 20: 497-500; Paddison P J et al. (2002), Genes Dev. 16: 948-958; Lee N S et al. (2002), Nat. Biotechnol. 20: 500-505; and Paul C P et al. (2002), Nat. Biotechnol. 20: 505-508, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference).

In one embodiment, a plasmid expressing a dsRNA of the invention comprises a sense RNA strand coding sequence in operable connection with a polyT termination sequence under the control of a human U6 RNA promoter, and an antisense RNA strand coding sequence in operable connection with a polyT termination sequence under the control of a human U6 RNA promoter. Such a plasmid can be used in producing a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector for expressing a dsRNA of the invention.

The dsRNA expressed from recombinant plasmids can either be isolated from cultured cell expression systems by standard techniques, or can be expressed intracellularly. Any viral vector capable of accepting the coding sequences for the dsRNA molecule(s) to be expressed can be used, for example vectors derived from adenovirus (AV); adeno-associated virus (AAV); retroviruses (e.g, lentiviruses (LV), Rhabdoviruses, murine leukemia virus); herpes virus, and the like. The tropism of the viral vectors can be modified by pseudotyping the vectors with envelope proteins or other surface antigens from other viruses, or by substituting different viral capsid proteins, as appropriate.

For example, lentiviral vectors of the invention can be pseudotyped with surface proteins from vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), rabies, Ebola, Mokola, and the like. AAV vectors of the invention can be made to target different cells by engineering the vectors to express different capsid protein serotypes. For example, an AAV vector expressing a serotype 2 capsid on a serotype 2 genome is called AAV 2/2. This serotype 2 capsid gene in the AAV 2/2 vector can be replaced by a serotype 5 capsid gene to produce an AAV 2/5 vector. Techniques for constructing AAV vectors which express different capsid protein serotypes are within the skill in the art (See, e.g., Rabinowitz J E et al. (2002), J Virol 76:791-801, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference).

Selection of recombinant viral vectors suitable for use in the invention, methods for inserting nucleic acid sequences for expressing the dsRNA into the vector, and methods of delivering the viral vector to the cells of interest are within the skill in the art. (See, e.g., Dornburg R (1995), Gene Therap. 2: 301-310; Eglitis M A (1988), Biotechniques 6: 608-614; Miller A D (1990), Hum Gene Therap. 1: 5-14; Anderson W F (1998), Nature 392: 25-30; and GenScript siRNA Construct Builder, www.GenScript.com) the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Preferred viral vectors are those derived from lentivirus, AV or AAV. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the siRNA of the invention is expressed from a single sequence inserted into a plasmid (e.g., pRNAT-U6.1/Hygro from GenScript).

Suitable AV vectors for expressing the dsRNA of the invention, a method for constructing the recombinant AV vector, and a method for delivering the vector into target cells, are described in Xia H et al. (2002), Nat. Biotech. 20: 1006-1010. Suitable AAV vectors for expressing the siRNA of the invention, methods for constructing the recombinant AAV vector, and methods for delivering the vectors into target cells are described in Samulski R et al. (1987), J. Virol. 61: 3096-3101; Fisher K J et al. (1996), J. Virol., 70: 520-532; Samulski R et al. (1989), J. Virol. 63: 3822-3826; U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,479; U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,941; International Patent Application No. WO 94/13788; and International Patent Application No. WO 93/24641, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, the present invention employs compositions comprising oligomeric antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides (e.g., those identified in the drug screening methods described herein), for use in modulating the function of nucleic acid molecules encoding a RNAi regulator, ultimately modulating the amount of a RNAi regulator expressed. This is accomplished by providing antisense compounds that specifically hybridize with one or more nucleic acids encoding a RNAi regulator (e.g., HPS1 or HPS4). The specific hybridization of an oligomeric compound with its target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of the nucleic acid. This modulation of function of a target nucleic acid by compounds that specifically hybridize to it is generally referred to as “antisense.” The functions of DNA to be interfered with include replication and transcription. The functions of RNA to be interfered with include all vital functions such as, for example, translocation of the RNA to the site of protein translation, translation of protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNA species, and catalytic activity that may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA. The overall effect of such interference with target nucleic acid function is modulation of the expression of a RNAi regulator. In the context of the present invention, “modulation” means either an increase (stimulation) or a decrease (inhibition) in the expression of a gene. For example, in preferred embodiments, expression is inhibited to enhance the RNAi based gene silencing in a cell.

It is preferred to target specific nucleic acids for antisense. “Targeting” an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid, in the context of the present invention, is a multistep process. The process usually begins with the identification of a nucleic acid sequence whose function is to be modulated. This may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, or a nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. In the present invention, the target is a nucleic acid molecule encoding a RNAi regulator (e.g., HPS1 and/or HPS4 and/or CG6969 or other RNAi regulator identified by the systems and methods disclosed herein). The targeting process also includes determination of a site or sites within this gene for the antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect (e.g., detection or modulation of expression of the protein) will result. Within the context of the present invention, a preferred intragenic site is the region encompassing the translation initiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of the gene. Since the translation initiation codon is typically 5′-AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5′-ATG in the corresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is also referred to as the “AUG codon,” the “start codon” or the “AUG start codon.” A minority of genes have a translation initiation codon having the RNA sequence 5′-GUG, 5′-UUG or 5′-CUG, and 5′-AUA, 5′-ACG and 5′-CUG that have been shown to function in vivo. Thus, the terms “translation initiation codon” and “start codon” can encompass many codon sequences, even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typically methionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes). Eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes may have two or more alternative start codons, any one of which may be preferentially utilized for translation initiation in a particular cell type or tissue, or under a particular set of conditions. In the context of the present invention, “start codon” and “translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that are used in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA molecule transcribed from a gene encoding a tumor antigen of the present invention, regardless of the sequence(s) of such codons.

Translation termination codon (or “stop codon”) of a gene may have one of three sequences (i.e., 5′-UAA, 5′-UAG and 5′-UGA; the corresponding DNA sequences are 5′-TAA, 5′-TAG and 5′-TGA, respectively). The terms “start codon region” and “translation initiation codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation initiation codon. Similarly, the terms “stop codon region” and “translation termination codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation termination codon.

The open reading frame (ORF) or “coding region,” which refers to the region between the translation initiation codon and the translation termination codon, is also a region that may be targeted effectively. Other target regions include the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR), referring to the portion of an mRNA in the 5′ direction from the translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides between the 5′ cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene, and the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR), referring to the portion of an mRNA in the 3′ direction from the translation termination codon, and thus including nucleotides between the translation termination codon and 3′ end of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene. The 5′ cap of an mRNA comprises an N7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5′-most residue of the mRNA via a 5′-5′ triphosphate linkage. The 5′ cap region of an mRNA is considered to include the 5′ cap structure itself as well as the first 50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap. The cap region may also be a preferred target region.

Although some eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are directly translated, many contain one or more regions, known as “introns,” that are excised from a transcript before it is translated. The remaining (and therefore translated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together to form a continuous mRNA sequence. mRNA splice sites (e.g., intron-exon junctions) may also be preferred target regions, and are particularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicated in disease, or where an overproduction of a particular mRNA splice product is implicated in disease. Aberrant fusion junctions due to rearrangements or deletions are also preferred targets. It has also been found that introns can also be effective, and therefore preferred, target regions for antisense compounds targeted, for example, to DNA or pre-mRNA.

Once one or more target sites have been identified, oligonucleotides are chosen that are sufficiently complementary to the target (e.g., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficient specificity) to give the desired effect. For example, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, antisense oligonucleotides are targeted to or near the start codon.

In the context of this invention, “hybridization,” with respect to antisense compositions and methods, means hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside or nucleotide bases. For example, adenine and thymine are complementary nucleobases that pair through the formation of hydrogen bonds. It is understood that the sequence of an antisense compound need not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to be specifically hybridizable. An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target DNA or RNA molecule interferes with the normal function of the target DNA or RNA to cause a loss of utility, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired (i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays or therapeutic treatment, and in the case of in vitro assays, under conditions in which the assays are performed).

Antisense compounds are commonly used as research reagents and diagnostics. For example, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able to inhibit gene expression with specificity, can be used to elucidate the function of particular genes. Antisense compounds are also used, for example, to distinguish between functions of various members of a biological pathway.

The specificity and sensitivity of antisense is also applied for therapeutic uses. For example, antisense oligonucleotides have been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states in animals and man. Antisense oligonucleotides have been safely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials are presently underway. It is thus established that oligonucleotides are useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful in treatment regimes for treatment of cells, tissues, and animals, especially humans.

While antisense oligonucleotides are a preferred form of antisense compound, the present invention comprehends other oligomeric antisense compounds, including but not limited to oligonucleotide mimetics such as are described below. The antisense compounds in accordance with this invention preferably comprise from about 8 to about 30 nucleobases (e.g., from about 8 to about 30 linked bases), although both longer and shorter sequences may find use with the present invention. Particularly preferred antisense compounds are antisense oligonucleotides, even more preferably those comprising from about 12 to about 25 nucleobases, or even more preferably, about 22 nucleobases (e.g., 21-24 nucleobases).

Specific examples of preferred antisense compounds useful with the present invention include oligonucleotides containing modified backbones or non-natural internucleoside linkages. As defined in this specification, oligonucleotides having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone. For the purposes of this specification, modified oligonucleotides that do not have a phosphorus atom in their internucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates including 3′-alkylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3′-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thionoalkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, and boranophosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs of these, and those having inverted polarity wherein the adjacent pairs of nucleoside units are linked 3′-5′ to 5′-3′ or 2′-5′ to 5′-2′. Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include a phosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These include those having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portion of a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone backbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamate backbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonate and sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N, O, S and CH₂ component parts.

In other preferred oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and the internucleoside linkage (e.g., the backbone) of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups. The base units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound. One such oligomeric compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of an oligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of PNA compounds include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Further teaching of PNA compounds can be found in Nielsen et al., Science 254:1497 (1991).

Most preferred embodiments of the invention are oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatom backbones, and in particular —CH₂, —NH—O—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—O—CH₂—(known as a methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone), —CH₂—O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—N(CH₃)—CH₂—, and —O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂—(wherein the native phosphodiester backbone is represented as —O—P—O—CH₂—) of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. Also preferred are oligonucleotides having morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506.

Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: OH; F; O—, S—, or N-alkyl; O—, S—, or N-alkenyl; O—, S- or N-alkynyl; or O-alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl or C₂ to C₁₀ alkenyl and alkynyl. Particularly preferred are O((CH₂)_(n)O)_(m)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)OCH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)NH₂, O(CH₂)_(n)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)ONH₂, and O(CH₂)_(n)ON((CH₂)_(n)CH₃))₂, where n and m are from 1 to about 10. Other preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: C₁ to C₁₀ lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH₃, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF₃, OCF₃, SOCH₃, SO₂CH₃, ONO₂, NO₂, N₃, NH₂, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties. A preferred modification includes 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′-O—CH₂CH₂OCH₃, also known as 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) or 2′-MOE) (Martin et al., Helv. Chim. Acta 78:486 (1995)) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxy group. A further preferred modification includes 2′-dimethylaminooxyethoxy (i.e., a O(CH₂)₂ON(CH₃)₂ group), also known as 2′-DMAOE, and 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₂)₂.

Other preferred modifications include 2′-methoxy(2′-O—CH₃), 2′-aminopropoxy(2′-OCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). Similar modifications may also be made at other positions on the oligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′ terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked oligonucleotides and the 5′ position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Oligonucleotides may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosyl sugar.

Oligonucleotides may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleobases include the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U). Modified nucleobases include other synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl uracil and cytosine, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808. Certain of these nucleobases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the oligomeric compounds of the invention. These include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2. degree ° C. and are presently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications.

Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the present invention involves chemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties or conjugates that enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. Such moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety, cholic acid, a thioether, (e.g., hexyl-5-tritylthiol), a thiocholesterol, an aliphatic chain, (e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues), a phospholipid, (e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain or adamantane acetic acid, a palmityl moiety, or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety.

One skilled in the relevant art knows well how to generate oligonucleotides containing the above-described modifications. The present invention is not limited to the antisense oligonucleotides described above. Any suitable modification or substitution may be utilized.

It is not necessary for all positions in a given compound to be uniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementioned modifications may be incorporated in a single compound or even at a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide. The present invention also includes antisense compounds that are chimeric compounds. “Chimeric” antisense compounds or “chimeras,” in the context of the present invention, are antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit (e.g., a nucleotide in the case of an oligonucleotide compound). These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide is modified so as to confer upon the oligonucleotide increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, and/or increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid. An additional region of the oligonucleotide may serve as a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNA hybrids. By way of example, RNaseH is a cellular endonuclease that cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide inhibition of gene expression. Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorter oligonucleotides when chimeric oligonucleotides are used, compared to phosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotides hybridizing to the same target region. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gel electrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridization techniques known in the art.

Chimeric antisense compounds of the present invention may be formed as composite structures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotide mimetics as described above.

The present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions and formulations that include the antisense compounds of the present invention as described below.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating cells comprising altering responsiveness of the cells to treatment comprising making the cells either more or less responsive (e.g., sensitive) to the treatment. In some embodiments, making the cells more or less responsive (e.g., sensitive) to treatment comprises altering the level of RNAi regulator expression and/or activity in the target cell. The present invention further provides a method of customizing cells for treatment by altering RNAi regulator expression and/or activity in the cells. In some embodiments, altering the level of RNAi regulator in the target cell comprises introducing siRNA and/or miRNA to the target cell (e.g., that inhibit RNAi regulator expression)

While it is conceivable that an RNAi regulator inhibitor (e.g., siRNA, miRNA or peptide) may be delivered directly to a HCMV infected cell, some embodiments involve providing a nucleic acid encoding an RNAi regulator inhibitor to a cell. Following this provision, RNAi regulator inhibitors are synthesized by the transcriptional and translational machinery of the cell. In some embodiments, additional components useful for transcription or translation may be provided by the expression construct comprising RNAi regulator inhibitor sequence.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for in vitro synthesis of RNAi regulator inhibitors (e.g., siRNA, proteins or portions thereof) by in vitro transcription; such methods provide efficient and economical alternatives to chemical synthesis, and the RNAi regulator inhibiors so synthesized can be used to transfect cells. In some embodiments, a siRNA construct (e.g., ds siRNA) can be designed to silence a RNAi regulator, inserted into at least one expression cassette, and transfected into the cell in which the target gene (e.g., RNAi regulator) is expressed. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method of enhancing RNAi comprising inhibiting a RNAi regulator (e.g, using RNAi). Furthermore, the present invention provides research applications wherein the effect of the lack of or disappearance of the RNAi regulator in the transfected cell is assessed; such results leading to elucidation of the function of the gene.

In some embodiments, research applications are in vivo in cells or tissues (e.g., as when cultured cells or tissues are transfected with either synthetic siRNA or siRNA expression constructs, as described above). In other embodiments, research applications are in vivo (e.g., as when organisms such as mammals are transfected with siRNA expression constructs, as described in further detail below).

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding RNAi regulator inhibitors (e.g., protein or siRNA) may be stably integrated into the genome of the cell. In yet further embodiments, the nucleic acid may be stably maintained in the cell as a separate, episomal segment of DNA. Such nucleic acid segments or “episomes” encode sequences sufficient to permit maintenance and replication independent of or in synchronization with the host cell cycle. How the expression construct is delivered to a cell and where in the cell the nucleic acid remains is dependent on, among other things, the type of expression construct employed.

The ability of certain viruses to infect cells or enter cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis, and to integrate into host cell genome and express viral genes stably and efficiently have made them attractive candidates for the transfer of foreign genes into mammalian cells. In some embodiments, vectors of the present invention are viral vectors (e.g., phage or adenovirus vectors).

Although some viruses that can accept foreign genetic material are limited in the number of nucleotides they can accommodate and in the range of cells they infect, these viruses have been demonstrated to successfully effect gene expression. However, adenoviruses do not integrate their genetic material into the host genome and therefore do not require host replication for gene expression, making them ideally suited for rapid, efficient, heterologous gene expression. Techniques for preparing replication-defective infective viruses are well known in the art.

Of course, in using viral delivery systems, one will desire to purify the virion sufficiently to render it essentially free of undesirable contaminants, such as defective interfering viral particles or endotoxins and other pyrogens such that it will not cause any untoward reactions in the cell, animal or individual receiving the vector construct. A preferred means of purifying the vector involves the use of buoyant density gradients, such as cesium chloride gradient centrifugation.

A particular method for delivery of the expression constructs involves the use of an adenovirus expression vector. Although adenovirus vectors are known to have a low capacity for integration into genomic DNA, this feature is counterbalanced by the high efficiency of gene transfer afforded by these vectors. “Adenovirus expression vector” is meant to include those constructs containing adenovirus sequences sufficient to (a) support packaging of the construct and (b) to ultimately express a tissue or cell-specific construct that has been cloned therein.

The expression vector may comprise a genetically engineered form of adenovirus. Knowledge of the genetic organization or adenovirus, a 36 kb, linear, double-stranded DNA virus, allows substitution of large pieces of adenoviral DNA with foreign sequences up to 7 kb (See Grunhaus and Horwitz, 1992). In contrast to retrovirus, the adenoviral infection of host cells does not result in chromosomal integration because adenoviral DNA can replicate in an episomal manner without potential genotoxicity. Also, adenoviruses are structurally stable, and no genome rearrangement has been detected after extensive amplification.

Adenovirus is particularly suitable for use as a gene transfer vector because of its mid-sized genome, ease of manipulation, high titer, wide target-cell range and high infectivity. Both ends of the viral genome contain 100-200 base pair inverted repeats (ITRs), which are cis elements necessary for viral DNA replication and packaging. The early (E) and late (L) regions of the genome contain different transcription units that are divided by the onset of viral DNA replication. The E1 region (E1A and E1B) encodes proteins responsible for the regulation of transcription of the viral genome and a few cellular genes. The expression of the E2 region (E2A and E2B) results in the synthesis of the proteins for viral DNA replication. These proteins are involved in DNA replication, late gene expression and host cell shut-off (Renan, 1990). The products of the late genes, including the majority of the viral capsid proteins, are expressed only after significant processing of a single primary transcript issued by the major late promoter (MLP). The MLP (located at 16.8 map units (m.u.)) is particularly efficient during the late phase of infection, and all the mRNA's issued from this promoter possess a 5′-tripartite leader (TPL) sequence which makes them preferred mRNA's for translation.

In a current system, recombinant adenovirus is generated from homologous recombination between shuttle vector and provirus vector. Due to the possible recombination between two proviral vectors, wild-type adenovirus may be generated from this process. Therefore, it is critical to isolate a single clone of virus from an individual plaque and examine its genomic structure.

Generation and propagation of the current adenovirus vectors, which are replication deficient, depend on a unique helper cell line, designated 293, which was transformed from human embryonic kidney cells by Ad5 DNA fragments and constitutively expresses E1 proteins (E1A and E1B; Graham et al., 1977). Since the E3 region is dispensable from the adenovirus genome (Jones and Shenk, 1978), the current adenovirus vectors, with the help of 293 cells, carry foreign DNA in either the E1, the D3 or both regions (Graham and Prevec, 1991). Recently, adenoviral vectors comprising deletions in the E4 region have been described (U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,488, incorporated herein by reference).

In nature, adenovirus can package approximately 105% of the wild-type genome (Ghosh-Choudhury et al., 1987), providing capacity for about 2 extra kb of DNA. Combined with the approximately 5.5 kb of DNA that is replaceable in the E1 and E3 regions, the maximum capacity of the current adenovirus vector is under 7.5 kb, or about 15% of the total length of the vector. More than 80% of the adenovirus viral genome remains in the vector backbone.

Helper cell lines may be derived from human cells such as human embryonic kidney cells, muscle cells, hematopoietic cells or other human embryonic mesenchymal or epithelial cells. Alternatively, the helper cells may be derived from the cells of other mammalian species that are permissive for human adenovirus. Such cells include, e.g., Vero cells or other monkey embryonic mesenchymal or epithelial cells. As stated above, the preferred helper cell line is 293.

Racher et al. (1995) disclosed improved methods for culturing 293 cells and propagating adenovirus. In one format, natural cell aggregates are grown by inoculating individual cells into 1 liter siliconized spinner flasks (Techne, Cambridge, UK) containing 100-200 ml of medium. Following stirring at 40 rpm, the cell viability is estimated with trypan blue. In another format, Fibra-Cel microcarriers (Bibby Sterlin, Stone, UK) (5 g/l) is employed as follows. A cell inoculum, resuspended in 5 ml of medium, is added to the carrier (50 ml) in a 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask and left stationary, with occasional agitation, for 1 to 4 h. The medium is then replaced with 50 ml of fresh medium and shaking initiated. For virus production, cells are allowed to grow to about 80% confluence, after which time the medium is replaced (to 25% of the final volume) and adenovirus added at an MOI of 0.05. Cultures are left stationary overnight, following which the volume is increased to 100% and shaking commenced for another 72 h.

Other than the requirement that the adenovirus vector be replication defective, or at least conditionally defective, the nature of the adenovirus vector is not believed to be crucial to the successful practice of the invention. The adenovirus may be of any of the 42 different known serotypes or subgroups A-F. Adenovirus type 5 of subgroup C is the preferred starting material in order to obtain the conditional replication-defective adenovirus vector for use in the present invention. This is because Adenovirus type 5 is a human adenovirus about which a great deal of biochemical and genetic information is known, and it has historically been used for most constructions employing adenovirus as a vector.

As stated above, the typical adenovirus vector according to the present invention is replication defective and will not have an adenovirus E1 region. Thus, it will be most convenient to introduce the transforming construct at the position from which the E1-coding sequences have been removed. However, the position of insertion of the construct within the adenovirus sequences is not critical to the invention. The polynucleotide encoding the gene of interest may also be inserted in lieu of the deleted E3 region in E3 replacement vectors as described by Karlsson et al. (1986) or in the E4 region where a helper cell line or helper virus complements the E4 defect.

Adenovirus growth and manipulation is known to those of skill in the art, and exhibits broad host range in vitro and in vivo. This group of viruses can be obtained in high titers, e.g., 10⁹ to 10¹¹ plaque-forming units per ml, and they are highly infective. The life cycle of adenovirus does not require integration into the host cell genome. The foreign genes delivered by adenovirus vectors are episomal and, therefore, have low genotoxicity to host cells.

Adenovirus vectors have been used in eukaryotic gene expression (Levrero et al., 1991; Gomez-Foix et al., 1992) and vaccine development (Grunhaus and Horwitz, 1992; Graham and Prevec, 1992). Recombinant adenovirus and adeno-associated virus (see below) can both infect and transduce non-dividing human primary cells.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is an attractive vector system for use in the cell transduction of the present invention as it has a high frequency of integration and it can infect nondividing cells, thus making it useful for delivery of genes into mammalian cells, for example, in tissue culture (Muzyczka, 1992) or in vivo. AAV has a broad host range for infectivity (Tratschin et al., 1984; Laughlin et al., 1986; Lebkowski et al., 1988; McLaughlin et al., 1988). Details concerning the generation and use of rAAV vectors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,941 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,368, each incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Studies demonstrating the use of AAV in gene delivery include LaFace et al. (1988); Zhou et al. (1993); Flotte et al. (1993); and Walsh et al. (1994). Recombinant AAV vectors have been used successfully for in vitro and in vivo transduction of marker genes (Kaplitt et al., 1994; Lebkowski et al., 1988; Samulski et al., 1989; Yoder et al., 1994; Zhou et al., 1994; Hermonat and Muzyczka, 1984; Tratschin et al., 1985; McLaughlin et al., 1988) and genes involved in human diseases (Flotte et al., 1992; Luo et al., 1994; Ohi et al., 1990; Walsh et al., 1994; Wei et al., 1994).

AAV is a dependent parvovirus in that it requires coinfection with another virus (either adenovirus or a member of the herpes virus family) to undergo a productive infection in cultured cells (Muzyczka, 1992). In the absence of coinfection with helper virus, the wild type AAV genome integrates through its ends into human chromosome 19 where it resides in a latent state as a provirus (Kotin et al., 1990; Samulski et al., 1991). rAAV, however, is not restricted to chromosome 19 for integration unless the AAV Rep protein is also expressed (Shelling and Smith, 1994). When a cell carrying an AAV provirus is superinfected with a helper virus, the AAV genome is “rescued” from the chromosome or from a recombinant plasmid, and a normal productive infection is established (Samulski et al., 1989; McLaughlin et al., 1988; Kotin et al., 1990; Muzyczka, 1992).

Typically, recombinant AAV (rAAV) virus is made by cotransfecting a plasmid containing the gene of interest flanked by the two AAV terminal repeats (McLaughlin et al., 1988; Samulski et al., 1989; each incorporated herein by reference) and an expression plasmid containing the wild type AAV coding sequences without the terminal repeats, for example pIM45 (McCarty et al., 1991; incorporated herein by reference). The cells are also infected or transfected with adenovirus or plasmids carrying the adenovirus genes required for AAV helper function. rAAV virus stocks made in such fashion are contaminated with adenovirus which must be physically separated from the rAAV particles (for example, by cesium chloride density centrifugation). Alternatively, adenovirus vectors containing the AAV coding regions or cell lines containing the AAV coding regions and some or all of the adenovirus helper genes could be used (Yang et al., 1994; Clark et al., 1995). Cell lines carrying the rAAV DNA as an integrated provirus can also be used (Flotte et al., 1995).

Retroviruses have promise as gene delivery vectors due to their ability to integrate their genes into the host genome, transferring a large amount of foreign genetic material, infecting a broad spectrum of species and cell types and of being packaged in special cell-lines (Miller, 1992).

The retroviruses are a group of single-stranded RNA viruses characterized by an ability to convert their RNA to double-stranded DNA in infected cells by a process of reverse-transcription (Coffin, 1990). The resulting DNA then stably integrates into cellular chromosomes as a provirus and directs synthesis of viral proteins. The integration results in the retention of the viral gene sequences in the recipient cell and its descendants. The retroviral genome contains three genes, gag, pol, and env that code for capsid proteins, polymerase enzyme, and envelope components, respectively. A sequence found upstream from the gag gene contains a signal for packaging of the genome into virions. Two long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences are present at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the viral genome. These contain strong promoter and enhancer sequences and are also required for integration in the host cell genome (Coffin, 1990).

In order to construct a retroviral vector, a nucleic acid encoding a gene of interest is inserted into the viral genome in the place of certain viral sequences to produce a virus that is replication-defective. In order to produce virions, a packaging cell line containing the gag, pol, and env genes but without the LTR and packaging components is constructed (Mann et al., 1983). When a recombinant plasmid containing a cDNA, together with the retroviral LTR and packaging sequences is introduced into this cell line (by calcium phosphate precipitation for example), the packaging sequence allows the RNA transcript of the recombinant plasmid to be packaged into viral particles, which are then secreted into the culture media (Nicolas and Rubenstein, 1988; Temin, 1986; Mann et al., 1983). The media containing the recombinant retroviruses is then collected, optionally concentrated, and used for gene transfer. Retroviral vectors are able to infect a broad variety of cell types. However, integration and stable expression require the division of host cells (Paskind et al., 1975).

Concern with the use of defective retrovirus vectors is the potential appearance of wild-type replication-competent virus in the packaging cells. This can result from recombination events in which the intact sequence from the recombinant virus inserts upstream from the gag, pol, env sequence integrated in the host cell genome. However, new packaging cell lines are now available that should greatly decrease the likelihood of recombination (Markowitz et al., 1988; Hersdorffer et al., 1990).

Gene delivery using second generation retroviral vectors has been reported. Kasahara et al. (1994) prepared an engineered variant of the Moloney murine leukemia virus, that normally infects only mouse cells, and modified an envelope protein so that the virus specifically bound to, and infected, human cells bearing the erythropoietin (EPO) receptor. This was achieved by inserting a portion of the EPO sequence into an envelope protein to create a chimeric protein with a new binding specificity.

Other viral vectors may be employed as expression constructs in the present invention. Vectors derived from viruses such as vaccinia virus (Ridgeway, 1988; Baichwal and Sugden, 1986; Coupar et al., 1988), sindbis virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus may be employed. They offer several attractive features for various mammalian cells (Friedmann, 1989; Ridgeway, 1988; Baichwal and Sugden, 1986; Coupar et al., 1988; Horwich et al., 1990).

With the recent recognition of defective hepatitis B viruses, new insight was gained into the structure-function relationship of different viral sequences. In vitro studies showed that the virus could retain the ability for helper-dependent packaging and reverse transcription despite the deletion of up to 80% of its genome (Horwich et al., 1990). This suggested that large portions of the genome could be replaced with foreign genetic material. Chang et al. recently introduced the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene into duck hepatitis B virus genome in the place of the polymerase, surface, and pre-surface coding sequences.

In certain further embodiments, the vector will be HSV. A factor that makes HSV an attractive vector is the size and organization of the genome. Because HSV is large, incorporation of multiple genes or expression cassettes is less problematic than in other smaller viral systems. In addition, the availability of different viral control sequences with varying performance (temporal, strength, etc.) makes it possible to control expression to a greater extent than in other systems. It also is an advantage that the virus has relatively few spliced messages, further easing genetic manipulations. HSV also is relatively easy to manipulate and can be grown to high titers. Thus, delivery is less of a problem, both in terms of volumes needed to attain sufficient MOI and in a lessened need for repeat dosings.

In still further embodiments of the present invention, the nucleic acids to be delivered (e.g., nucleic acids encoding RNAi regulator inhibitors) are housed within an infective virus that has been engineered to express a specific binding ligand. The virus particle will thus bind specifically to the cognate receptors of the target cell and deliver the contents to the cell. A novel approach designed to allow specific targeting of retrovirus vectors was recently developed based on the chemical modification of a retrovirus by the chemical addition of lactose residues to the viral envelope. This modification can permit the specific infection of hepatocytes via sialoglycoprotein receptors.

Another approach to targeting of recombinant retroviruses was designed in which biotinylated antibodies against a retroviral envelope protein and against a specific cell receptor were used. The antibodies were coupled via the biotin components by using streptavidin (Roux et al., 1989). Using antibodies against major histocompatibility complex class I and class II antigens, they demonstrated the infection of a variety of human cells that bore those surface antigens with an ecotropic virus in vitro (Roux et al., 1989).

In various embodiments of the invention, nucleic acid sequence encoding RNAi regulator inhibitors is delivered to a cell as an expression construct. In order to effect expression of a gene construct, the expression construct is delivered into a cell. As described herein, one mechanism for delivery is via viral infection, where the expression construct is encapsidated in an infectious viral particle. However, several non-viral methods for the transfer of expression constructs into cells also are contemplated by the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the expression construct may consist only of naked recombinant DNA or plasmids (e.g., vectors comprising nucleic acid sequences of the present invention). Transfer of the construct may be performed by any of the methods mentioned which physically or chemically permeabilize the cell membrane. Some of these techniques may be successfully adapted for in vivo or ex vivo use, as discussed below.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the expression construct may be entrapped in a liposome. Liposomes are vesicular structures characterized by a phospholipid bilayer membrane and an inner aqueous medium. Multilamellar liposomes have multiple lipid layers separated by aqueous medium. They form spontaneously when phospholipids are suspended in an excess of aqueous solution. The lipid components undergo self-rearrangement before the formation of closed structures and entrap water and dissolved solutes between the lipid bilayers (Ghosh and Bachhawat, 1991). Also contemplated is an expression construct complexed with Lipofectamine (Gibco BRL).

Liposome-mediated nucleic acid delivery and expression of foreign DNA in vitro has been very successful (Nicolau and Sene, 1982; Fraley et al., 1979; Nicolau et al., 1987). Wong et al. (1980) demonstrated the feasibility of liposome-mediated delivery and expression of foreign DNA in cultured chick embryo, HeLa and hepatoma cells.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the liposome may be complexed with a hemagglutinating virus (HVJ). This has been shown to facilitate fusion with the cell membrane and promote cell entry of liposome-encapsulated DNA (Kaneda et al., 1989). In other embodiments, the liposome may be complexed or employed in conjunction with nuclear non-histone chromosomal proteins (HMG-1) (Kato et al., 1991). In yet further embodiments, the liposome may be complexed or employed in conjunction with both HVJ and HMG-1. In other embodiments, the delivery vehicle may comprise a ligand and a liposome. Where a bacterial promoter is employed in the DNA construct, it also will be desirable to include within the liposome an appropriate bacterial polymerase.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the expression construct is introduced into the cell via electroporation. Electroporation involves the exposure of a suspension of cells (e.g., bacterial cells such as E. coli) and DNA to a high-voltage electric discharge.

Transfection of eukaryotic cells using electroporation has been quite successful. Mouse pre-B lymphocytes have been transfected with human kappa-immunoglobulin genes (Potter et al., 1984), and rat hepatocytes have been transfected with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (Tur-Kaspa et al., 1986) in this manner.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the expression construct is introduced to the cells using calcium phosphate precipitation. Human KB cells have been transfected with adenovirus 5 DNA (Graham and Van Der Eb, 1973) using this technique. Also in this manner, mouse L(A9), mouse C127, CHO, CV-1, BHK, NIH3T3 and HeLa cells have been transfected with a neomycin marker gene (Chen and Okayama, 1987), and rat hepatocytes were transfected with a variety of marker genes (Rippe et al., 1990).

In another embodiment, the expression construct is delivered into the cell using DEAE-dextran followed by polyethylene glycol. In this manner, reporter plasmids were introduced into mouse myeloma and erythroleukemia cells (Gopal, 1985).

Another embodiment of the invention for transferring a naked DNA expression construct into cells may involve particle bombardment. This method depends on the ability to accelerate DNA-coated microprojectiles to a high velocity allowing them to pierce cell membranes and enter cells without killing them (Klein et al., 1987). Several devices for accelerating small particles have been developed. One such device relies on a high voltage discharge to generate an electrical current, which in turn provides the motive force (Yang et al., 1990). The microprojectiles used have consisted of biologically inert substances such as tungsten or gold beads.

Further embodiments of the present invention include the introduction of the expression construct by direct microinjection or sonication loading. Direct microinjection has been used to introduce nucleic acid constructs into Xenopus oocytes (Harland and Weintraub, 1985), and LTK⁻ fibroblasts have been transfected with the thymidine kinase gene by sonication loading (Fechheimer et al., 1987).

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the expression construct is introduced into the cell using adenovirus assisted transfection. Increased transfection efficiencies have been reported in cell systems using adenovirus coupled systems (Kelleher and Vos, 1994; Cotten et al., 1992; Curiel, 1994).

Still further expression constructs that may be employed to deliver nucleic acid construct to target cells are receptor-mediated delivery vehicles. These take advantage of the selective uptake of macromolecules by receptor-mediated endocytosis that will be occurring in the target cells. In view of the cell type-specific distribution of various receptors, this delivery method adds another degree of specificity to the present invention.

Certain receptor-mediated gene targeting vehicles comprise a cell receptor-specific ligand and a DNA-binding agent. Others comprise a cell receptor-specific ligand to which the DNA construct to be delivered has been operatively attached. Several ligands have been used for receptor-mediated gene transfer (Wu and Wu, 1987; Wagner et al., 1990; Perales et al., 1994; Myers, EPO 0273085), which establishes the operability of the technique.

In other embodiments, the DNA delivery vehicle component of a cell-specific gene targeting vehicle may comprise a specific binding ligand in combination with a liposome. The nucleic acids to be delivered are housed within the liposome and the specific binding ligand is functionally incorporated into the liposome membrane. The liposome will thus specifically bind to the receptors of the target cell and deliver the contents to the cell. Such systems have been shown to be functional using systems in which, for example, epidermal growth factor (EGF) is used in the receptor-mediated delivery of a nucleic acid to cells that exhibit upregulation of the EGF receptor.

In still further embodiments, the DNA delivery vehicle component of the targeted delivery vehicles may be a liposome itself, which will preferably comprise one or more lipids or glycoproteins that direct cell-specific binding. For example, Nicolau et al. (1987) employed lactosyl-ceramide, a galactose-terminal asialganglioside, incorporated into liposomes and observed an increase in the uptake of the insulin gene by hepatocytes. It is contemplated that the tissue-specific transforming constructs of the present invention can be specifically delivered into the target cells in a similar manner.

Genetic Therapies

The present invention contemplates the use of any genetic manipulation for use in modulating the expression of RNAi regulator. Examples of genetic manipulation include, but are not limited to, gene knockout (e.g., removing the RNAi regulator from the chromosome using, for example, recombination), expression of antisense constructs with or without inducible promoters, and the like. Delivery of nucleic acid construct to cells in vitro or in vivo or ex vivo may be conducted using any suitable method (e.g., using the methods described herein). A suitable method is one that introduces the nucleic acid construct into the cell such that the desired event occurs (e.g., expression of an antisense construct).

Introduction of molecules carrying genetic information into cells is achieved by any of various methods including, but not limited to, directed injection of naked DNA constructs, bombardment with gold particles loaded with said constructs, and macromolecule mediated gene transfer using, for example, liposomes, biopolymers, and the like. Preferred methods use gene delivery vehicles derived from viruses, including, but not limited to, adenoviruses, retroviruses, vaccinia viruses, and adeno-associated viruses. Because of the higher efficiency as compared to retroviruses, vectors derived from adenoviruses are the preferred gene delivery vehicles for transferring nucleic acid molecules into host cells in vivo. Adenoviral vectors have been shown to provide very efficient in vivo gene transfer into a variety of solid tumors in animal models and into human solid tumor xenografts in immune-deficient mice. Examples of adenoviral vectors and methods for gene transfer are described in PCT publications WO 00/12738 and WO 00/09675 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,033,908, 6,019,978, 6,001,557, 5,994,132, 5,994,128, 5,994,106, 5,981,225, 5,885,808, 5,872,154, 5,830,730, and 5,824,544, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Vectors may be administered to subject in a variety of ways. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, vectors are administered into cells or tissue using direct injection. In other embodiments, administration is via the blood or lymphatic circulation (See e.g., PCT publication 99/02685 herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). Exemplary dose levels of adenoviral vector are preferably 10⁸ to 10¹¹ vector particles added to the perfusate.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions (e.g., comprising RNAi regulator inhibitors described herein). The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. For example, administration may be topical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginal and rectal delivery), pulmonary (e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral, anal, or parenteral, although the present invention is not limited to these routes of administration. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration. Oligonucleotides with at least one 2′-O-methoxyethyl modification are believed to be particularly useful for oral administration.

Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable.

Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, sachets or tablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders may be desirable.

Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal or intraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutions that may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, solutions, emulsions, and liposome-containing formulations. These compositions may be generated from a variety of components that include, but are not limited to, preformed liquids, self-emulsifying solids and self-emulsifying semisolids.

The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention, which may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared according to conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any of many possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, and enemas. The compositions of the present invention may also be formulated as suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueous suspensions may further contain substances that increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

In one embodiment of the present invention the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated and used as foams. Pharmaceutical foams include formulations such as, but not limited to, emulsions, microemulsions, creams, jellies and liposomes. While basically similar in nature these formulations vary in the components and the consistency of the final product.

Agents that enhance uptake of oligonucleotides at the cellular level may also be added to the pharmaceutical and other compositions of the present invention. For example, cationic lipids, such as lipofectin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,188), cationic glycerol derivatives, and polycationic molecules, such as polylysine (WO 97/30731), also enhance the cellular uptake of oligonucleotides.

The compositions of the present invention may additionally contain other adjunct components conventionally found in pharmaceutical compositions. Thus, for example, the compositions may contain additional, compatible, pharmaceutically-active materials such as, for example, antipruritics, astringents, local anesthetics or anti-inflammatory agents, or may contain additional materials useful in physically formulating various dosage forms of the compositions of the present invention, such as dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, opacifiers, thickening agents and stabilizers. However, such materials, when added, should not unduly interfere with the biological activities of the components of the compositions of the present invention. The formulations can be sterilized and, if desired, mixed with auxiliary agents, e.g., lubricants, preservatives, stabilizers, wetting agents, emulsifiers, salts for influencing osmotic pressure, buffers, colorings, flavorings and/or aromatic substances and the like which do not deleteriously interact with the nucleic acid(s) of the formulation.

In some embodiments, the invention provide pharmaceutical compositions containing (a) one or more RNAi regulator inhibitors (e.g., antisense compounds) and (b) one or more other therapeutic agent (e.g. siRNA targeting a non-RNAi regulator gene). The two or more combined agents (e.g., a siRNA targeting a non-RNAi regulator gene and an RNAi regulator inhibitor (e.g., siRNA, peptide, small molecule, antibody, or the like) may be used together or sequentially.

Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the disease state (e.g., severity of symptoms caused by aberrant expression of a gene (e.g., an oncogene)) to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting from several days to several months, or until a cure is effected or a diminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedules can be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body of the patient. The administering physician can easily determine optimum dosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages may vary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides, and can generally be estimated based on EC₅₀s found to be effective in in vitro and in vivo animal models or based on the examples described herein. In general, dosage is from 0.01 μg to 100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. The treating physician can estimate repetition rates for dosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the a drug in bodily fluids or tissues. Following successful treatment, it may be desirable to have the subject undergo maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of the disease state, wherein, for example, a pharmaceutical or drug comprising a RNAi regulator inhibitor (e.g., siRNA) and one or more other agents (e.g., a siRNA specific for a non-RNAi regulator gene) is administered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 μg to 100 g per kg of body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years.

Antibodies

The present invention further provides methods of generating antibodies for detecting and/or inhibiting a RNAi regulators (e.g. HPS1, HPS4, CG6969, or other RNAi regulator identified by the systems and methods of the present invention). For example, in some embodiments, the present invention provides monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to an isolated polypeptide comprised of at least five amino acid residues of HPS1 or HPS4. These antibodies find use in the therapeutic methods described herein.

An antibody against a RNAi regulator of the present invention may be any monoclonal or polyclonal antibody, as long as it can recognize the protein. Antibodies can be produced by using a protein of the present invention as the antigen according to a conventional antibody or antiserum preparation process.

The present invention contemplates the use of both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Any suitable method may be used to generate the antibodies used in the methods and compositions of the present invention, including but not limited to, those disclosed herein. For example, for preparation of a monoclonal antibody, protein, as such, or together with a suitable carrier or diluent is administered to an animal (e.g., a mammal) under conditions that permit the production of antibodies. For enhancing the antibody production capability, complete or incomplete Freund's adjuvant may be administered. Normally, the protein is administered once every 2 weeks to 6 weeks, in total, about 2 times to about 10 times. Animals suitable for use in such methods include, but are not limited to, primates, rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, mice, rats, sheep, goats, etc.

For preparing monoclonal antibody-producing cells, an individual animal whose antibody titer has been confirmed (e.g., a mouse) is selected, and 2 days to 5 days after the final immunization, its spleen or lymph node is harvested and antibody-producing cells contained therein are fused with myeloma cells to prepare the desired monoclonal antibody producer hybridoma. Measurement of the antibody titer in antiserum can be carried out, for example, by reacting the labeled protein, as described hereinafter and antiserum and then measuring the activity of the labeling agent bound to the antibody. The cell fusion can be carried out according to known methods, for example, the method described by Koehler and Milstein (Nature 256:495 (1975)). As a fusion promoter, for example, polyethylene glycol (PEG) or Sendai virus (HVJ), preferably PEG is used.

Examples of myeloma cells include NS-1, P3U1, SP2/0, AP-1 and the like. The proportion of the number of antibody producer cells (spleen cells) and the number of myeloma cells to be used is preferably about 1:1 to about 20:1. PEG (preferably PEG 1000-PEG 6000) is preferably added in concentration of about 10% to about 80%. Cell fusion can be carried out efficiently by incubating a mixture of both cells at about 20° C. to about 40° C., preferably about 30° C. to about 37° C. for about 1 minute to 10 minutes.

Various methods may be used for screening for a hybridoma producing the antibody (e.g., against a RNAi regulator of the present invention). For example, where a supernatant of the hybridoma is added to a solid phase (e.g., microplate) to which antibody is adsorbed directly or together with a carrier and then an anti-immunoglobulin antibody (if mouse cells are used in cell fusion, anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody is used) or Protein A labeled with a radioactive substance or an enzyme is added to detect the monoclonal antibody against the protein bound to the solid phase. Alternately, a supernatant of the hybridoma is added to a solid phase to which an anti-immunoglobulin antibody or Protein A is adsorbed and then the protein labeled with a radioactive substance or an enzyme is added to detect the monoclonal antibody against the protein bound to the solid phase.

Selection of the monoclonal antibody can be carried out according to any known method or its modification. Normally, a medium for animal cells to which HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, thymidine) are added is employed. Any selection and growth medium can be employed as long as the hybridoma can grow. For example, RPMI 1640 medium containing 1% to 20%, preferably 10% to 20% fetal bovine serum, GIT medium containing 1% to 10% fetal bovine serum, a serum free medium for cultivation of a hybridoma (SFM-101, Nissui Seiyaku) and the like can be used. Normally, the cultivation is carried out at 20° C. to 40° C., preferably 37° C. for about 5 days to 3 weeks, preferably 1 week to 2 weeks under about 5% CO₂ gas. The antibody titer of the supernatant of a hybridoma culture can be measured according to the same manner as described above with respect to the antibody titer of the anti-protein in the antiserum.

Separation and purification of a monoclonal antibody (e.g., against a RNAi regulator of the present invention) can be carried out according to the same manner as those of conventional polyclonal antibodies such as separation and purification of immunoglobulins, for example, salting-out, alcoholic precipitation, isoelectric point precipitation, electrophoresis, adsorption and desorption with ion exchangers (e.g., DEAE), ultracentrifugation, gel filtration, or a specific purification method wherein only an antibody is collected with an active adsorbent such as an antigen-binding solid phase, Protein A or Protein G and dissociating the binding to obtain the antibody.

Polyclonal antibodies may be prepared by any known method or modifications of these methods including obtaining antibodies from patients. For example, a complex of an immunogen (an antigen against the protein) and a carrier protein is prepared and an animal is immunized by the complex according to the same manner as that described with respect to the above monoclonal antibody preparation. A material containing the antibody against is recovered from the immunized animal and the antibody is separated and purified.

As to the complex of the immunogen and the carrier protein to be used for immunization of an animal, any carrier protein and any mixing proportion of the carrier and a hapten can be employed as long as an antibody against the hapten, which is crosslinked on the carrier and used for immunization, is produced efficiently. For example, bovine serum albumin, bovine cycloglobulin, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, etc. may be coupled to an hapten in a weight ratio of about 0.1 part to about 20 parts, preferably, about 1 part to about 5 parts per 1 part of the hapten.

In addition, various condensing agents can be used for coupling of a hapten and a carrier. For example, glutaraldehyde, carbodiimide, maleimide activated ester, activated ester reagents containing thiol group or dithiopyridyl group, and the like find use with the present invention. The condensation product as such or together with a suitable carrier or diluent is administered to a site of an animal that permits the antibody production. For enhancing the antibody production capability, complete or incomplete Freund's adjuvant may be administered. Normally, the protein is administered once every 2 weeks to 6 weeks, in total, about 3 times to about 10 times.

The polyclonal antibody is recovered from blood, ascites and the like, of an animal immunized by the above method. The antibody titer in the antiserum can be measured according to the same manner as that described above with respect to the supernatant of the hybridoma culture. Separation and purification of the antibody can be carried out according to the same separation and purification method of immunoglobulin as that described with respect to the above monoclonal antibody.

The protein used herein as the immunogen is not limited to any particular type of immunogen. For example, HPS1 and/or HPS4 and/or CG6969 protein (further including a gene having a nucleotide sequence partly altered) can be used as the immunogen. Further, fragments of the protein may be used. Fragments may be obtained by any methods including, but not limited to expressing a fragment of the gene, enzymatic processing of the protein, chemical synthesis, and the like.

In some embodiments, antibodies (e.g., monoclonal antibodies) are humanized. Such humanized antibodies find particular use in the cancer immunotherapies described below. Humanized antibodies are altered in order to make them less immunogenic to humans, e.g., by constructing chimeric antibodies in which a mouse antigen-binding variable domain is coupled to a human constant domain. Humanized antibodies are typically human antibodies in which some CDR residues and possibly some FR residues are substituted by residues from analogous sites in rodent antibodies. Methods for humanizing antibodies are well known in the art and include but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,054,297, 4,816,567, 6,180,377, 5,871,907, 5,585,089, and 6,180,370, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Drug Screening

In some embodiments, the present invention provides drug screening assays (e.g., to screen for agents (e.g., small molecules, proteins, etc.) that can inhibit a RNAi regulator's function. The screening methods of the present invention utilize a RNAi regulator of the present invention. For example, in some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of screening for compounds that alter (e.g., increase or decrease) the expression of a RNAi regulator. In some embodiments, candidate compounds are antisense agents (e.g., oligonucleotides) directed against a RNAi regulator (See, e.g., Example 5). In other embodiments, candidate compounds are antibodies. In some embodiments, the candidate compound is a small molecule.

In one screening method, candidate compounds are evaluated for their ability to alter RNAi regulator presence, activity or expression by contacting a compound with a cell (e.g., an cell expressing a RNAi regulator or capable of generating a RNAi regulator) and then assaying for the effect of the candidate compounds on the presence or expression of a RNAi regulator. In some embodiments, the effect of candidate compounds on expression or presence of a RNAi regulator (e.g., HPS1 and/or HPS4 and/or CG6969) is assayed for by detecting the level of RNAi regulator present within the cell.

In other embodiments, the effect of candidate compounds on expression or presence of a RNAi regulator is assayed by measuring the level of polypeptide encoded by the RNAi regulator. The level of polypeptide expressed can be measured using any suitable method, including but not limited to, those disclosed herein.

Specifically, the present invention provides screening methods for identifying modulators, (e.g., candidate or test compounds or agents (e.g., proteins, peptides, peptidomimetics, peptoids, small molecules or other drugs)) that bind to proteins that generated RNAi regulators of the present invention, have an inhibitory (or stimulatory) effect on, for example, RNAi regulator expression, RNAi regulator activity or RNAi regulator presence, or have a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on, for example, the expression or activity of a RNAi regulator substrate. Compounds thus identified can be used to modulate the activity of target gene products either directly or indirectly in a therapeutic protocol, to elaborate the biological function of the target gene product, or to identify compounds that disrupt normal target gene interactions. Compounds that inhibit or enhance the activity, expression or presence of RNAi regulators find use in the treatment of cancer or other diseases that are characterized by aberrant gene expression (e.g., other proliferative disorders).

In one embodiment, the invention provides assays for screening candidate or test compounds that are substrates of a RNAi regulator. In another embodiment, the invention provides assays for screening candidate or test compounds that bind to or modulate the activity of a RNAi regulator.

The test compounds of the present invention can be obtained using any of the numerous approaches in combinatorial library methods known in the art, including biological libraries; peptoid libraries (libraries of molecules having the functionalities of peptides, but with a novel, non-peptide backbone, which are resistant to enzymatic degradation but which nevertheless remain bioactive; see, e.g., Zuckennann et al., J. Med. Chem. 37: 2678-85 (1994)); spatially addressable parallel solid phase or solution phase libraries; synthetic library methods requiring deconvolution; the ‘one-bead one-compound’ library method; and synthetic library methods using affinity chromatography selection. The biological library and peptoid library approaches are preferred for use with peptide libraries, while the other four approaches are applicable to peptide, non-peptide oligomer or small molecule libraries of compounds (Lam (1997) Anticancer Drug Des. 12:145).

Examples of methods for the synthesis of molecular libraries can be found in the art, for example in: DeWitt et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90:6909 (1993); Erb et al., Proc. Nad. Acad. Sci. USA 91:11422 (1994); Zuckermann et al., J. Med. Chem. 37:2678 (1994); Cho et al., Science 261:1303 (1993); Carrell et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33.2059 (1994); Carell et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33:2061 (1994); and Gallop et al., J. Med. Chem. 37:1233 (1994).

Libraries of compounds may be presented in solution (e.g., Houghten, Biotechniques 13:412-421 (1992)), or on beads (Lam, Nature 354:82-84 (1991)), chips (Fodor, Nature 364:555-556 (1993)), bacteria or spores (U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; herein incorporated by reference), plasmids (Cull et al., Proc. Nad. Acad. Sci. USA 89:18651869 (1992)) or on phage (Scott and Smith, Science 249:386-390 (1990); Devlin Science 249:404-406 (1990); Cwirla et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 87:6378-6382 (1990); Felici, J. Mol. Biol. 222:301 (1991)).

In one embodiment, an assay is a cell-based assay in which a cell that contains or is capable of generating a RNAi regulator (e.g., HPS1 and/or HPS4) is contacted with a test compound, and the ability of the test compound to modulate the RNAi regulator's presence, expression or activity is determined. Determining the ability of the test compound to modulate RNAi regulator presence, expression or activity can be accomplished by monitoring, for example, changes in enzymatic activity or downstream products (e.g., rate or amount of holo-RISC assembly formation).

The ability of the test compound to modulate RNAi regulator binding to a compound (e.g., a RNAi regulator substrate) can also be evaluated. This can be accomplished, for example, by coupling the compound (e.g., the substrate) with a radioisotope or enzymatic label such that binding of the compound (e.g., the substrate) to a RNAi regulator can be determined by detecting the labeled compound (e.g., substrate) in a complex.

Alternatively, the RNAi regulator can be coupled with a radioisotope or enzymatic label to monitor the ability of a test compound to modulate RNAi regulator binding to a substrate in a complex. For example, compounds (e.g., substrates) can be labeled with ¹²⁵I, ³⁵S, ¹⁴C or ³H, either directly or indirectly, and the radioisotope detected by direct counting of radioemmission or by scintillation counting. Alternatively, compounds can be enzymatically labeled with, for example, horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, or luciferase, and the enzymatic label detected by determination of conversion of an appropriate substrate to product.

The ability of a compound (e.g., a RNAi regulator substrate) to interact with a RNAi regulator with or without the labeling of any of the interactants can be evaluated. For example, a microphysiometer can be used to detect the interaction of a compound with a RNAi regulator without the labeling of either the compound or the RNAi regulator (See, e.g., McConnell et al. Science 257:1906-1912 (1992)). As used herein, a “microphysiometer” (e.g., Cytosensor) is an analytical instrument that measures the rate at which a cell acidifies its environment using a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS). Changes in this acidification rate can be used as an indicator of the interaction between a compound and RNAi regulators.

In yet another embodiment, a cell-free assay is provided in which a RNAi regulator is contacted with a test compound and the ability of the test compound to bind to the RNAi regulator is evaluated.

Cell-free assays involve preparing a reaction mixture of the target gene protein and the test compound under conditions and for a time sufficient to allow the two components to interact and bind, thus forming a complex that can be removed and/or detected.

The interaction between two molecules (e.g., a RNAi regulator and a compound) can also be detected, e.g., using fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) (See, e.g., Lakowicz et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,169; Stavrianopoulos et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,103; each of which is herein incorporated by reference). A fluorophore label is selected such that a first donor molecule's emitted fluorescent energy will be absorbed by a fluorescent label on a second, ‘acceptor’ molecule, which in turn is able to fluoresce due to the absorbed energy.

Alternately, the ‘donor’ molecule may simply utilize the natural fluorescent energy of tryptophan residues. Labels are chosen that emit different wavelengths of light, such that the ‘acceptor’ molecule label may be differentiated from that of the ‘donor’. Since the efficiency of energy transfer between the labels is related to the distance separating the molecules, the spatial relationship between the molecules can be assessed. In a situation in which binding occurs between the molecules, the fluorescent emission of the ‘acceptor’ molecule label in the assay should be maximal. A FRET binding event can be conveniently measured through standard fluorometric detection means well known in the art (e.g., using a fluorimeter).

In another embodiment, determining the ability of the RNAi regulator to bind to a target molecule can be accomplished using real-time Biomolecular Interaction Analysis (BIA) (See, e.g., Sjolander and Urbaniczky, Anal. Chem. 63:2338-2345 (1991) and Szabo et al. Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 5:699-705 (1995)). “Surface plasmon resonance” or “BIA” detects biospecific interactions in real time, without labeling any of the interactants (e.g., BIAcore). Changes in the mass at the binding surface (indicative of a binding event) result in alterations of the refractive index of light near the surface (the optical phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance (SPR)), resulting in a detectable signal that can be used as an indication of real-time reactions between biological molecules.

In one embodiment, the test substance is anchored onto a solid phase. The target gene product/test compound complexes anchored on the solid phase can be detected at the end of the reaction. Preferably, the target gene product can be anchored onto a solid surface, and the test compound, (which is not anchored), can be labeled, either directly or indirectly, with detectable labels discussed herein.

It may be desirable to immobilize RNAi regulators, an anti-RNAi regulator antibody or its target molecule to facilitate separation of complexed from non-complexed forms of one or both of the molecules, as well as to accommodate automation of the assay. Binding of a test compound to a RNAi regulator or interaction of a RNAi regulator with a target molecule in the presence and absence of a candidate compound, can be accomplished in any vessel suitable for containing the reactants. Examples of such vessels include microtiter plates, test tubes, and micro-centrifuge tubes.

For example, in one embodiment, a fusion protein can be provided which adds a domain that allows one or both of the molecules to be bound to a matrix. For example, a glutathione-S-transferase/target fusion protein can be adsorbed onto glutathione Sepharose beads (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, Mo.) or glutathione-derivatized microtiter plates, which are then combined with the test compound or the test compound and either the non-adsorbed target protein or RNAi regulator, and the mixture incubated under conditions conducive for complex formation (e.g., at physiological conditions for salt and pH). Following incubation, the beads or microtiter plate wells are washed to remove any unbound components, the matrix immobilized in the case of beads, complex determined either directly or indirectly, for example, as described above.

Alternatively, the complexes can be dissociated from the matrix, and the level of RNAi regulator binding or activity determined using standard techniques. Other techniques for immobilizing either RNAi regulator molecule (e.g., nucleic acid or protein) or a target molecule on matrices include using conjugation of biotin and streptavidin. Biotinylated biomarker or target molecules can be prepared from biotin-NHS(N-hydroxy-succinimide) using techniques known in the art (e.g., biotinylation kit, Pierce Chemicals, Rockford, EL), and immobilized in the wells of streptavidin-coated 96 well plates (Pierce Chemical).

In order to conduct the assay, the non-immobilized component is added to the coated surface containing the anchored component. After the reaction is complete, unreacted components are removed (e.g., by washing) under conditions such that any complexes formed will remain immobilized on the solid surface. The detection of complexes anchored on the solid surface can be accomplished in a number of ways. Where the previously non-immobilized component is pre-labeled, the detection of label immobilized on the surface indicates that complexes were formed. Where the previously non-immobilized component is not pre-labeled, an indirect label can be used to detect complexes anchored on the surface; e.g., using a labeled antibody specific for the immobilized component (the antibody, in turn, can be directly labeled or indirectly labeled with, e.g., a labeled anti-IgG antibody).

This assay is performed utilizing antibodies reactive with RNAi regulator or target molecules but which do not interfere with binding of the RNAi regulator to its target molecule. Such antibodies can be derivatized to the wells of the plate, and unbound target or RNAi regulator trapped in the wells by antibody conjugation. Methods for detecting such complexes, in addition to those described above for the GST-immobilized complexes, include immunodetection of complexes using antibodies reactive with the biomarker or target molecule, as well as enzyme-linked assays which rely on detecting an enzymatic activity associated with the RNAi regulator or target molecule.

Alternatively, cell free assays can be conducted in a liquid phase. In such an assay, the reaction products are separated from unreacted components, by any of a number of standard techniques, including, but not limited to: differential centrifugation (See, e.g., Rivas and Minton, Trends Biochem Sci 18:284-7 (1993)); chromatography (gel filtration chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography); electrophoresis (See, e.g., Ausubel et al., eds. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology 1999, J. Wiley: New York.); and immunoprecipitation (See, e.g., Ausubel et al., eds. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology 1999, J. Wiley: New York). Such resins and chromatographic techniques are known to one skilled in the art (See e.g., Heegaard J. Mol. Recognit. 11:141-8 (1998); Hageand Tweed J. Chromatogr. Biomed. Sci. Appl 699:499-525 (1997)). Further, fluorescence energy transfer may also be conveniently utilized, as described herein, to detect binding without further purification of the complex from solution.

The assay can include contacting the RNAi regulator with a known compound that binds the RNAi regulator to form an assay mixture, contacting the assay mixture with a test compound, and determining the ability of the test compound to interact with a RNAi regulator, wherein determining the ability of the test compound to interact with a RNAi regulator includes determining the ability of the test compound to preferentially bind to RNAi regulator, or to modulate the activity of a target molecule, as compared to the known compound.

To the extent that RNAi regulators can, in vivo, interact with one or more cellular or extracellular macromolecules, such as proteins, inhibitors of such an interaction are useful. A homogeneous assay can be used to identify inhibitors.

For example, a preformed complex of the target gene product and the interactive cellular or extracellular binding partner product is prepared such that either the target gene products or their binding partners are labeled, but the signal generated by the label is quenched due to complex formation (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,496, herein incorporated by reference, that utilizes this approach for immunoassays). The addition of a test substance that competes with and displaces one of the species from the preformed complex will result in the generation of a signal above background. In this way, test substances that disrupt target gene product-binding partner interaction can be identified. Alternatively, RNAi regulators can be used as a “bait” in a two-hybrid assay or three-hybrid assay (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,317; Zervos et al., Cell 72:223-232 (1993); Madura et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268.12046-12054 (1993); Bartel et al., Biotechniques 14:920-924 (1993); Iwabuchi et al., Oncogene 8:1693-1696 (1993); and Brent W0 94/10300; each of which is herein incorporated by reference), to identify proteins that bind to or interact with RNAi regulators (“RNAi regulator-binding proteins” or “RNAi regulator-bp”). Such RNAi regulator-bps can be activators or inhibitors of signals by the RNAi regulators or targets as, for example, downstream elements of a biomarker-mediated signaling pathway (e.g. holo-RISC activity).

Modulators of RNAi regulator presence can also be identified. For example, a cell or cell free mixture can be contacted with a candidate compound and the presence of RNAi regulator evaluated relative to the level of RNAi regulator in the absence of the candidate compound. When presence of RNAi regulator is greater in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as a stimulator of RNAi regulator accumulation. Alternatively, when presence of RNAi regulator is less (i.e., statistically significantly less) in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as an inhibitor of RNAi regulator accumulation. The level of RNAi regulator presence can be determined by methods described herein for detecting RNAi regulator.

A modulating agent can be identified using a cell-based or a cell free assay, and the ability of the agent to modulate the activity of a RNAi regulator can be confirmed in vivo, e.g., in an animal such as an animal model for a disease (e.g., an animal with cancer or cells from a cancer resulting from aberrant gene expression or cells from a cancer cell line).

This invention further pertains to novel agents identified by the above-described screening assays. Accordingly, it is within the scope of this invention to further use an agent identified as described herein (e.g., a RNAi regulator modulating agent, an antisense RNAi regulator nucleic acid molecule, a siRNA molecule, a RNAi regulator specific antibody, or a RNAi regulator-binding substrate) in an appropriate animal model (such as those described herein) to determine the efficacy, toxicity, side effects, or mechanism of action, of treatment with such an agent. Furthermore, novel agents identified by the above-described screening assays can be used (e.g., for treatments as described herein).

Research Applications

The compositions and methods of the present invention are applicable to the field of reverse genetic analysis, by gene silencing. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for in vitro synthesis of siRNA (e.g., either ds siRNA or hairpin siRNA, by in vitro transcription). Such methods provide efficient and economical alternatives to chemical synthesis, and the siRNAs so synthesized can be used to transfect cells. In other embodiments, a siRNA construct (e.g., ds siRNA) can be designed to silence a RNAi regulator of the present invention (See, e.g., Examples 2-4), inserted into at least one expression cassette, and transfected into the cell in which the target gene is expressed. The effect of the lack of or disappearance of RNAi regulator in the transfected cell can then be assessed; such results often lead to elucidation of the function of the gene.

In some embodiments, research applications are in vivo in cells or tissues, as when cultured cells or tissues are transfected with either synthetic siRNA or siRNA expression constructs, as described above. In other embodiments, research applications are in vivo, as when organisms such as mammals are transfected with siRNA expression constructs, as described in further detail herein.

EXPERIMENTAL

The following examples are provided in order to demonstrate and further illustrate certain preferred embodiments and aspects of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope thereof.

Example 1 Systems and Methods to Identify RNAi Regulators (e.g., Inhibitors)

Several observations provided a basis to examine whether organisms might contain factors that normally restrict or limit the potency of RNAi. First, different species within the same genus exhibit radically different RNAi responsiveness. Second, mutant variants of the nematode C. elegans display enhanced RNAi responsiveness (See, e.g., Kennedy et al., (2004) Nature 427, 645-649). Thus, an approach was taken to genetically identify inhibitory factors (e.g., RNAi regulators) in a tractable model system, identify homologues of such regulators in other species, and determine whether these factors have a universal function as RNAi regulators (e.g., inhibitors). A further goal was to determine whether blocking (e g inhibiting expression and/or function) of these regulators during and RNAi application would enhance the strength of the RNAi response.

A strategy to discover RNAi regulatory genes was to use saturation mutagenesis and identify recessive mutant variants that exhibit stronger RNAi than normal. It was determined that a genetic screen that saturates the genome with mutations would be the most extensive means to identify the genes of interest. An essential requirement for conducting this type of screen is the ability to induce a uniform and consistent RNAi response in mutagenized animals. Moreover, to allow saturation mutagenesis, thousand of animals needed to be screened, necessitating inducing RNAi on a large scale. Injection, soaking, or bombardment of Drosophila was unsatisfactory in both scale and uniformity.

A transgenic approach was more feasible. The underlying assumption of transgenic RNAi is that organisms synthesize dsRNA themselves and induce self-silencing. This requires that the gene encoding a dsRNA trigger is in trans to the target gene. In Drosophila, P-element mediated transformation is a simple means to introduce a transgene into the genome. Thus, it has the potential to work in the whole organism and to be stably inherited within a purebred stock. This design was explored by making the transgene as an inverted repeat, thereby producing a hairpin RNA product (See, e.g., Kennerdell and Carthew (2000) Nat Biotechnol 18, 896-898).

A snapback transgene against lacZ was designed. Part of the lacZ coding region was inserted as an inverted repeat into a transformation vector. When this was done, the sapback construct cell-autonomously inhibited expression of a reporter lacZ gene in many tissues at a variety of developmental stages.

Despite its successes, one of the problems with the strategy was that the silencing effect was variable. Affected individuals exhibited a spectrum of RNAi-induced phenotypes. Such non-uniformity meant that any screen would pick out many false-positives and miss many potential mutants. These problems, in part, inspired the generation of the systems and methods of the present invention.

A modular RNAi transgene vector was constructed that expresses spliced hairpin RNA (See, e.g., Lee and Carthew (2003) Methods 30, 322-329). The vector, called pWIZ for White Intron Zipper, is designed so that gene fragments can be subcloned upstream and downstream of a 74-nt intron of the white gene (See FIG. 2). The intron bears all features of a consensus Drosophila intron and it can be spliced in heterologous tissues. Insertion of any fragment upstream and downstream of the intron maintains the 5′ and 3′ splice sites.

The intron-based approach was used to target a reporter gene for screening. The white gene was chosen as an RNAi target. The white gene encodes an ABC transporter required cell-autonomously to pigment the adult compound eye (See, e.g., Mackenzie et al., (2000) Genetica 108, 239-252). A white⁺ eye is dark red in color while a null white mutant is completely white. This phenotype is easily scored under low magnification with a stereomicroscope, affording easy and rapid phenotype screening. Loss of white has no impact on viability or fertility. Additionally, mutant alleles with reduced activity can be ordered by a phenotypic series: red, brown, orange, yellow, white. A semiquantitative relationship exists between expression level and phenotype such that partially reduced expression results in an intermediate phenotype (See, e.g., Mackenzie et al., (1999) Biochim Viophys Acta 1419, 173-185).

The third exon of the white gene was placed in a tail-to-tail orientation separated by the 74 nucleotide white intron (See FIG. 3). The tail-to-tail repeat was placed into the pGMR transformation vector. pGMR drives transgene expression specifically in the adult compound eye by virtue of the eye-specific GMR promoter. White⁺ flies were then transformed with the vector and transformants that had a white loss-of-function phenotype were selected (See FIG. 3). Seven transformant lines were generated exhibiting a yellow eye color with one copy of the transgene (e.g., partial silencing). Transformants bearing two copies of the transgene were virtually indistinguishable from null white mutants (e.g., complete silencing). Importantly, all individual flies from each line exhibited a uniform eye color phenotype indicating strong expressivity and penetrance of the RNAi effect. This meant that screening for eye color variants of such flies would minimize the likelihood of picking out false-positives or missing relevant mutants.

The simplest way to screen for RNAi mutants to isolate recessive mutants that are viable and fertile, but are defective (e.g., enhanced or inhibited) for RNAi. This approach has been used for all heretofore RNAi genetic screens in various models systems.

The present invention provides a new strategy based upon the suspicion that much of the RNAi mechanism has critical links to other processes that are essential for viability or fertility. Thus, if true, many mutants that perturb RNAi would be recessive lethal or sterile and would be missed in a screen for viable mutants. This suspicion is based on the observation that mutations in genes such as Dicer and Agol produce lethal and/or sterile phenotypes (See, e.g., Grishok et al., (2001) cell 106, 23-24; Kataoka et al., (2001) Genes Cells 6, 313-325). Thus, a F1 genetic mosaic screen was devised that allowed the identification of recessive mutations of this class.

The F1 genetic mosaic screen is based on a strategy to create flies that are heterozygous but in which the compound eye is composed of cells homozygous mutant for one of the five major chromosomal arms. This screen can detect homozygous mutations that perturb RNAi of white in the compound eye. The screen is outlined in FIG. 4.

Following ethyl-methane-sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis, homozygous mutant clones were generated in F1 progeny using the FLP-FRT system to induce site-specific mitotic recombination. To restrict recombination to the eye, FLP recombinase was expressed under control of the eyeless promoter (eyFLP), which is exclusively active throughout the proliferative phase of eye development (See, e.g., Newsome et al., (2000) Development 127, 851-860). eyFLP—induced recombination is so efficient that virtually no heterozygous eye tissue remains by the end of the proliferative phase. The wild-type FRT chromosome was marked with the cell-death transgene GMR-hid, which kills retinal cells during metamorphosis (e.g., post-proliferative) due to the eye-specific GMR promoter driving the apoptotic hid gene (See, e.g., Stowers and Schwarz (1999) Genetics 152, 1631-1639). The fates of the three possible genotypes of retinal cells are shown in FIG. 4. Any retinal cell possessing even one copy of GMR-hid will die, leaving only retinal cells homozygous for the mutagenized chromosome. Since the remaining cells compensate in number for the missing ones by further division, the size and morphology of eyes engineered in this fashion are normal.

The F1 progeny of mutagenized flies also contained one copy of the white hairpin transgene on the X chromosome. These flies ordinarily exhibit a yellow eye color, due to partial silencing of white (See FIG. 3). Mutant flies were searched for in which the eye color was changed from yellow to white (e.g., complete silencing). Genes that normally inhibit white RNAi would be detected by such enhancer mutations that generate a white eye phenotype.

The screen was conducted on three autosomal chromosome arms representing 60 percent of the genome (See, e.g., Lee et al., (2004) Cell 117, 83-94). Hundreds of enhancer mutations were isolated that displayed white eyes. Once stocks of these mutants were established, they were retested for their ability to enhance the phenotype induced by RNAi against a totally different gene, Csk. If mutants also enhanced the Csk (RNAi) phenotype, it indicated that the mutants are general enhancers of RNAi and are not impacting unrelated phenomena such as white hairpin RNA transcription or pigment metabolism. The great majority of the original mutants identified were not RNAi enhancers based on this criteria, and these mutants were discarded. The remaining mutants were tested further (e.g., See Examples 2-5, below).

Example 2 dHPS4 is an RNAi Inhibitor

One complementation group identified on chromosome 2R contained five mutant alleles. All alleles in various trans-heterozygous combinations enhanced the RNAi phenotypes of white and Csk to comparable degrees (See FIG. 4). The mutant phenotypes were highly specific for RNAi. No other abnormalities were apparent. This indicates that the affected gene has a highly specific function in RNAi inhibition.

The chromosomal position of the mutant locus was mapped by SNP and deficiency mapping as previously described (See, e.g., Lee, et al. Cell 117, 83-94 (2004)). This narrowed the interval containing the locus to approximately 22 kb. Within the interval, a total of six annotated genes were identified from the sequenced genome. The genes from mutant and parental wild-type chromosomes were sequenced. It was determined that all five mutant alleles contained changes in the coding sequence of CG4966. Each of the changes independently generated nonsense mutations, resulting in predicted protein products that were smaller than normal. The positions of the mutations are outlined in FIG. 6. These data provide that the RNAi inhibitor gene identified from the screen corresponds to CG4966.

No motifs or functional protein domains were recognizable in the predicted protein sequence of CG4966. However, when the CG4966 (e.g., isoforms RB and RA, SEQ ID NOS. 1 (FIG. 14) and 2 (FIG. 15), respectively) sequence was compared to genes in other species, significant similarity was observed to a gene found in various insect and vertebrate genomes (See FIG. 6). Strikingly, the human ortholog of CG4966 is the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome 4 (HPS4) gene (See, e.g., Suzuki, T. et al. Nat Genet. 30, 321-4 (2002), See FIG. 17). Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare group of autosomal recessive diseases whose manifestations include oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding, and lysosomal ceroid storage (See, e.g., Huizing et al., Traffic 1, 823-35 (2000)). The bleeding problems of HPS result from platelet dysfunction and lead to easy bruising, nose bleeds, and extended bleeding. Its etiology has been related to defects in 7 genes: HPS1 to HPS7. The mouse HPS4 ortholog called light ear has similar complex phenotypes when it is mutated (See, e.g., Suzuki, T. et al. Nat Genet. 30, 321-4 (2002)).

Interestingly, human HPS1 and its mouse ortholog pale ear exhibit identical phenotypes to HPS4 (See, e.g., Oh, J. et al. Nat Genet. 14, 300-6 (1996); Feng et al., Hum Mol Genet. 6, 793-7 (1997)) and HPS1 protein forms a complex with HPS4 protein in the cytosol (See, e.g., Chiang, et al. J Biol Chem 278, 20332-7 (2003); Martina et al., J Biol Chem 278, 29376-84 (2003); Nazarian et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100, 8770-5 (2003)). In addition, the HPS1 protein is absent in tissues of HPS4 mutant mice (See, e.g., Suzuki, T. et al. Nat Genet. 30, 321-4 (2002)). These results indicate that the HPS4 and HPS1 proteins function in the same pathway.

A BLAST search of the Drosophila genome for orthologs to human HPS1 revealed the gene CG12855 on chromosome 2R. It bears 37% identity over a 190 amino acid region encompassing the C-terminal portion of each protein (See FIG. 7). This region exhibits the strongest sequence conservation between HPS1 and various vertebrate genomes.

To confirm that CG12855 (SEQ ID NO.:3 (FIG. 16)) and CG4966 (SEQ ID NOS.:1 and 2 (FIGS. 14 and 15)) correspond to the fly homologs of human HPS1 (SEQ ID NO.:4 (FIG. 17)) and human HPS4 (SEQ ID NO.:5 (FIG. 17)), respectively, epitope-tagged versions of each Drosophila protein was co-expressed in S2 cells. The co-expressing cells were harvested, and the potential association between the proteins was analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation (See FIG. 8). When HA-tagged CG4966 protein was immunoprecipitated and blotted for the presence of FLAG-tagged CG12855, a protein with the predicted size for CG12855 was observed. Control immunoprecipitations done in the absence of HA-CG4966 failed to co-immunoprecipitate FLAG-CG12855. Immunoprecipitation of CG12855 also resulted in the co-IP of CG4966 (See FIG. 8). Thus, the two proteins specifically associate with each other in vivo. On the basis of conserved protein structure and association, CG4966 has been named dHPS4, and CG12855 has been named dHPSJ.

Example 3 dHPS4 Inhibits Assembly of Holo-RISC

Next, the biochemical role for dHPS4 (e.g., in inhibiting RNAi) was examined by preparing extracts from wildtype and dHPS4 mutant tissues. Extracts were tested for different steps in the RNAi pathway. Formation of siRNA from dsRNA was completely normal in mutant extracts. In contrast, cleavage of mRNA targets directed by siRNAs was significantly enhanced in mutant extracts (See FIG. 9). Thus, the present invention provides that a normal role for dHPS4 is to attenuate siRNA-guided target destruction. The affected steps were further characterized by resolving RISC and pre-RISC complexes by native gel electrophoresis (See, e.g., Pham et al., Cell 117, 83-94 (2004)). Mutant extracts had normal levels of the R2D2/Dicer-2 Initiator Complex (RDI) and RISC Loading Complex (RLC) (See FIG. 10). However, levels of holo-RISC were much higher than normal, indicating that dHPS4 specifically reduces holo-RISC abundance. It is unlikely that dHPS4 does so by modification of the siRNA since the apparent sizes of the siRNA strands are unaffected. Although an understanding of the mechanism is not necessary to practice the present invention and the present invention is not limited to any particular mechanism of action, in some embodiments, the present invention demonstrates that dHPS4 reduces holo-RISC levels by altering (e.g., inhibiting) the activity of the holo-RISC complex or one or more proteins in the reaction.

Example 4 Loss of dHPS4 Results in Three-Fold Stronger RNAi Activity than Normal

To determine if dHPS4 slows down the rate of holo-RISC formation or if it accelerates the rate of holo-RISC turnover, a kinetic analysis of RISC assembly was performed. Mutant extracts displayed a three-fold increase in the rate of holo-RISC formation from the RLC, which is comparable to the overall enhanced rate of holo-RISC activity at steady state (See FIG. 11). Thus, the present invention provides that dHPS4 attenuates the rate of holo-RISC formation.

Both dHPS1 and dHPS4 are co-localized to the cytoplasm of S2 cells (See FIG. 12), as are their human counterparts in human cell culture (See, e.g., Nazarian et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100, 8770-5 (2003)). Interestingly, a two-hybrid analysis revealed association between dHPS4 and two Drosophila translation factors: rpS3 and Waclaw, a GTP-binding translation elongation factor (See, e.g., Giot, et al. Science 302, 1727-36 (2003)). Although an understanding of the mechanism is not necessary to practice the present invention and the present invention is not limited to any particular mechanism of action, in some embodiments, since holo-RISC appears to be associated with 80S ribosomes (See, e.g., Pham et al., Cell 117, 83-94 (2004)), the present invention provides that dHPS4 may interact with RISC through the ribosome.

Example 5 Altering dHPS4 Expression and/or Activity Enhances RNAi

The present invention provides methods of enhancing RNAi by altering (e.g., disabling or repressing the synthesis of) HPS4 and/or HPS1. For example, the present invention provides that dHPS4 physically associates with dHPS1 protein, and that mutation of the HPS1 gene results in the identical phenotype to a HPS4 mutant. Thus, the present invention contemplates a method of enhancing RNAi potency via inhibiting the interaction between HPS4 and HPS1 (e.g., using a small molecule or antibody to inhibit HPS4 and/or HPS1 activity of function, or, inhibiting expression of HPS4 or HPS1 (e.g., using RNAi)).

Example 6 Biochemistry of Human RNAi

As described above, many of the studies on HPS4 have been done in the Drosophila model system. However, the ability to study the biochemistry of RNAi in humans has also been established. Extracts from HeLa cells are competent for RNAi in vitro (See FIG. 13), and these extracts have been used to identify complexes that interact with siRNAs and that may play a role in RISC assembly (See, e.g., Pellino, et al., 11: 1719-1724 (2005)).

Example 7 Subcellular Localization of dHPS1 and dHPS4

Epitope-tagged dHPS1 and dHPS4 were found in the cytoplasm of S2 cells, particularly in punctate structures. These structures are not P-bodies since they do not label with Decapping Protein. Rather, they appear to be trafficking vesicles since human HPS4 and HPS1 localize to the Golgi and recycling endosomes. Two-hybrid analysis revealed association between dHPS4 and the vesicle trafficking protein Syntaxin16. Although an understanding of the mechanism is not necessary to practice the present invention and the present invention is not limited to any particular mechanism of action, in some embodiments, dHPS4 alters the RISC assembly mechanism by recruiting RISC factors to vesicle compartments that are recalcitrant to RISC assembly. Supporting evidence for such a model comes from the observation that human Ago2 and Dicer are frequently localized to Golgi and endosomes of secretory cells such as neurons and pancreatic cells. Thus, in some embodiments, HPS4 promotes Ago2 localization, providing less Ago2 protein for RISC assembly. OPTIPREP gradient ultracentrifugation was used to separate Drosophila extract into membrane-associated and free fractions. By Western blot, about half of the Drosophila HPS4 protein co-sediments with membranes to the top of the gradient along with the Golgi marker protein GM130 (See FIG. 18). The majority of Ago2 protein also co-sediments with membranes from Drosophila extract.

Example 8 Characterization of dHPS4 Activity in the miRNA Pathway In Vivo

It has been shown that dHPS4 represses the siRNA pathway, which is important for a multitude of RNAi applications in research, agriculture, and medical therapeutics. However, the present invention is not limited to the siRNA pathway. Indeed, as described below, the present invention also provides compositions and methods for the manipulation of the miRNA pathway (e.g., for use in commercial applications (e.g., medical (e.g., therapeutic), agriculture, and research applications (e.g., miRNA therapeutics under development to treat cancer and hypercholesterolemia)).

In order to determine whether one or more of the repressors HPS4 and HPS1 play a role in the miRNA pathway, dHPS4 mutants were tested for their effect on miRNA pathway activity. Experiments conducted during the development of the present invention demonstrated that dHPS4 inhibits miRISC activity.

In order to assay miRNA pathway activity in vivo, a transgene indicator was created. GFP was expressed under an eye-specific promoter and linked to the 3′UTR of the Bearded gene (See FIG. 19A). The indicator relies on the fact that if miRNAs interact with the 3′UTR, this will be “indicated” by reduced GFP fluorescence. The UTR contains natural miRNA-binding sites for miR-2, -4, -7, -11, and -79, and it is naturally regulated by these miRNAs in the fly. This UTR was chosen rather than one with artificial miRNA sites for several reasons. First, its broad spectrum generally ensures a greater likelihood of detection of mutants affecting miRNAs. Second, the 3′UTR confers strong responsiveness to Dcr-1 in the developing eye.

GFP expression is easily scored in unpigmented adult eyes, affording easy and rapid phenotype testing (See FIG. 19B). Clones of eye cells that are homozygous mutant for a particular gene of interest were generated using the eyFLP/FRT system to induce site-specific mitotic recombination. The mosaic flies also contain one copy of the GFP indicator transgene. Clones within eyes that were more or less fluorescent than normal were examined. Genes that activate the miRNA pathway can be detected by mutations that generate brighter fluorescence, while repressor genes are detected by mutations that generate less fluorescence. Dcr-1 mutants were used to demonstrate a functioning system. Indeed, Dcr-1 mutant eye clones were readily detected with brighter fluorescence—the small clone size reflected a growth defect of the mutant. (See FIG. 19C). HPS4 mutant clones showed weaker fluorescence than normal, indicating that HPS4 is also a miRNA pathway repressor (See FIG. 19D).

The ability of HPS4 to represses the miRNA pathway was further evaluated by testing its activity in vitro. Pre-diced duplex miRNA or pre-miRNA was added to dHPS4 mutant or wildtype extract, and miRISC activity was detected by cleavage of a complementary substrate mRNA. Unlike the case with siRNAs, assembly of such miRNA duplexes into miRISC is Dicer2-independent. Comparison of miRISC activity from normal and dHPS4 mutant extracts indicate that the presence of dHPS4 inhibits miRISC activity in vitro (FIG. D3). Thus, in some embodiments, the present invention provides that inhibition of repressors of RNAi (e.g., HPS4 and/or HPS1) can be used to enhance the performance of the miRNA pathway.

Example 9 Identification and Characterization of the RNAi Repressor CG6969

The screen of the Drosophila chromosome 3R led to the isolation of two mutations that failed to complement each other. The mutations generated stronger RNAi activity as measured by white (RNAi) when homozygous mutant and when in trans-heterozygous combination (See FIG. 21). The two mutations map to the same chromosomal locus, and thus are alleles of the same gene. To verify that the mutations affected the siRNA pathway, the mutants'effects on RNAi against the Csk gene were characterized. Indeed, both mutations enhanced the rough-eye phenotype of Csk(RNAi) (See FIG. 21). The mutant flies were viable and fertile. The only detectable phenotype that they exhibit is enhanced RNAi.

The gene's location was mapped by SNP analysis to an interval from 94B1 to 94C3. The location was further narrowed to a smaller interval. This was done by more extensive SNP analysis. 200 or more recombinant lines with third chromosomes were collected that are composite of the mutant FRT chromosome and a wild-type polymorphic chromosome. These were genotyped for known SNPs in the relevant interval. The mutants were then crossed with 17 DrosDel deletions that are present in the interval to narrow the mutation further. Phenotyping was done by assaying white(RNAi). Using these methods, the interval was narrowed to 27 kb, from 18499K to 18526K. This interval includes seven annotated genes. The genes were sequenced from the non-mutagenized parental animal and the two different mutant animals. Sequence polymorphisms were searched for in coding regions of the genes. One gene, CG6969, contained single nucleotide polymorphisms in the mutant animals when compared to wildtype. The sequence change in one mutant generates a premature stop codon in the CG6969 open reading frame at position 524. The sequence change in the other mutant generates a glycine to threonine codon change at position 686 in the open reading frame. This glycine residue is invariant in paralogous and orthologous proteins related to CG6969, indicating that it is functionally important for the protein's function (See FIG. 22). Thus, based on these criteria, CG6969 was identified as an RNAi repressor.

Biochemical analysis was performed on the CG6969 mutants to determine which step in the siRNA pathway depended upon the gene product. From this analysis, it appeared that holo-RISC activity is repressed by CG6969 (See FIG. 23). Moreover, the inhibition of holo-RISC activity correlated with a reduction in holo-RISC abundance when holo-RISC was assembled in vitro. In contrast, the abundance of RISC assembly intermediate complexes RDI and RLC were not reduced by CG6969. To determine if CG6969 reduced holo-RISC by down-regulating abundance of RISC subunits, their abundance was examined by Western blot. CG6969 did not affect the levels of known holo-RISC subunits such as Ago2, TSN, VIG, and dFXR (See FIG. 24). Thus, although an understanding of the mechanism is not necessary to practice the present invention and the present invention is not limited to any particular mechanism of action, in some embodiments, CG6969 represses the siRNA pathway at the same step as HPS4. Thus, the present invention provides a peroxidase that acts as an inhibitor of the siRNA pathway. Given the virtually complete conservation of RNAi mechanisms between insect and human, it is contemplated that peroxidase participation in RNAi will be regulated similarly in both species.

CG6969 protein structure was characterized. Using the software PROSITE and PFAM, it was determined that CG6969 contained a transmembrane domain at its amino-terminus and a peroxidase domain at its carboxy-terminus (See FIG. 25). Animal peroxidases reduce hydrogen peroxide and donate free oxygen to small-molecule acceptors such as glutathione, alcohol, or chloride. Besides being important regulators of redox potential, peroxidases also play important roles in innate immune defense. The defense strategies that animal hosts use to combat infection include pathogen recognition, phagocytosis, cytoskeleton remodeling, coagulation, melanization, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In mammals, one of the earliest innate immune responses involves the generation of sufficient amounts of ROS to combat the pathogen, as well as concurrent elimination of residual ROS in order to protect the host. Failure to balance synthesis and elimination of ROS can lead to many chronic epithelial inflammatory diseases in humans. Peroxidases fulfill an antioxidant function in general by reducing ROS. However, in granulocytic immune cells such as eosinophils, peroxidases help generate highly reactive species such as HOBr that carry out widespread chemical oxidation of pathogens. Alignment of CG6969 with related peroxidases from other species did not reveal an unambiguous homolog. Rather, CG6969 is most highly related to a few human peroxidases in the immune system that include MPO, LPO, and EPX (See FIG. 28). These peroxidases also contain an amino-terminal transmembrane domain. Thus, in some embodiments, CG6969 plays an active role in immune defense mechanisms.

All publications and patents mentioned in the above specification are herein incorporated by reference. Various modifications and variations of the described compositions and methods of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention that are obvious to those skilled in the relevant fields are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. 

We claim:
 1. A method of enhancing the potency of RNAi silencing of an aberrantly expressed gene in a cell comprising co-administering to the cell an siRNA specific for HPS1 or CG6969 with a siRNA and/or miRNA specific for the aberrantly expressed gene such that said aberrantly expressed gene is silenced by said siRNA and/or miRNA specific for said aberrantly expressed gene to a greater extent than when said siRNA specific for HPS1 or CG6969 is absent.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said siRNA specific for HPS1 or CG6969 is specific for HPS1.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said siRNA specific for HPS1 or CG6969 is specific for CG6969.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said aberrantly expressed gene is an oncogene.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said aberrantly expressed gene is a gene expressed by a pathogenic organism.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said cell is in vitro.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said cell is in vivo.
 8. A method of identifying an inhibitor of a RNAi regulator comprising: a) providing cells comprising said RNAi regulator; b) administering to said cells a test compound; and c) characterizing the ability of said test compound to alter said RNAi regulator.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein altering said RNAi regulator inhibits expression of said RNAi regulator.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein altering said RNAi regulator inhibits activity of said RNAi regulator.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said test compound is an RNA.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said RNA is a siRNA.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein said RNA is a dsRNA.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said RNA is a shRNA.
 15. The method of claim 8, wherein said test compound is selected from the group consisting of an antibody, a small molecule, a peptide, and a peptoid.
 16. The method of claim 8, wherein said RNAi regulator is selected from the group consisting of HPS1, HPS4 and CG6969. 